OK, so I will throw it out there, and some may want to try it. Others may not. Hopefully, some can add to it. I had one main issue which I may have fixed.
I have used it mainly with XP Pro and Word 2007. It will most likely work with Word 2003 or Open Office, but I know where there is one useful tool in 2007.
This is to insure that all HTML documents open in Word for editing and printing AFTER the letter has been printed and saved to the patient's import items folder.
The first thing I would do if you are using Office 2007 is bring up Word, right click on the ribbon, choose Customize Quick Access Toolbar, change Choose Commands From to All Commands and then scroll down to "Convert Table To Text." Double click on that and then choose OK to put that command on your Quick Access Toolbar. Don't blame me. This is how Microsoft chose to do it.
OK, all letters or notes or whatever printed by AC are saved as HTML files. When you need to re-print a letter you are forced to open the HTML file which is uneditable and is formatted in a fashion that is not professional. So, what if we could force it to open in Word? We can.
You can either go to Windows Explorer and any Window and choose Tools, Folder Options and File Types or you can go to Control Panel and select Folder Options, File Types.
The File Types controls what programs will open which files, etc. Once you have opened that windows, click on H on your keyboard so it will scroll down to the Hs.
Scroll down three to HTM (NOT HTML), and highlight it. You will notice that it says Opens with Internet Explorer or whatever your browser is. It is temping to select Change, but this will not do anything. You must click the Advanced button at the bottom right. You will now be at the Edit File Type window. Under Actions: you should see an Open and an Open in Same Window. These are set to open in HTML. We have to change them. (These can all be changed back). Double click on Open. You will see either %Open or Open at the top. It doesn't matter. Then there will be a path to your browser as that is the default application to open any file with an extension of .html. You will then see Use DDE with a bunch of jibberish below.
Uncheck Use DDE which will give you a smaller window and browse to Winword.exe. This is generally located in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\Winword.exe. If you use a different office version it may be Office11 or whatever.
For reasons that only Microsoft could know, it is sometimes located at C:\Program Files\Microsoft Outlook\Office12\ even though Microsoft Office is sitting right next to it. Go figure. Either way, it is up to you to be able to find Winword.exe. Once you do, click on it, and it will replace the I.E. path.
Click OK, and then double-click on Open In Same Window. When you click on Browse, it will open the correct window and you select Winword.exe again.
After you have done this, go back and click on HTM -> Advanced, and you should see under Use DDE that WINWORD has replaced IEXPLORER under Application and the Topic should say System.
In AC, make sure your letter writer is set up in Center Format. This isn't imperative, but it makes everything easier. When you go to a patient's Imported Items and find the letter you wish to print, right click and choose Open In Default Application. It SHOULD then open in Word if you did everything correctly. When it opens, you could print it right there, and at least you wouldn't have some of the extra characters that some of us, including me, got in the past.
Now, just to reveal the embedded HTML tables which is what will keep you from editing it the way you want, click on the the famous Pilcrow symbol (the little icon which looks like Pi that you use to see paragraphs and spaces. If you click on View Gridlines under layout, you will see the incredible maze of HTML tables and see why editing is nearly impossible. BUT, if you recall our first step where we strategically places the Convert Tables to Word, you click on that, and presto, the tables are gone and you can edit away.
1. Granted, this may seem like a lot. But, like anything, once you do it, it is very easy.
2. It may seem like too much to do to solve the editing and HTML issues.
3. There can be a couple of glitches related to whether or not you have one or two browsers on your PC.
With WIN7 or Vista, I can't find the actual place where File Types are kept. Someone with those OS may be able to check that out.
Anyway, give it a try. You may like it. If you have questions, fire away.
