MergeIT2 Microsoft Word Free option

Will I be able to install MergeIT on a Windows server operating system?

Yes.  We recommend that this is only done after extensive testing and there has proven to be no need for Microsoft Word.

How do I set it up?

Once you have a version of MergeIT supporting the feature, request a license and tick the "Run Word Free" option in settings.  To get hold of the latest version of MergeIT please contact the Orchard Support Desk.

We have a few templates that use word addins.  Can we still use these?

Addins cannot be run "Word free". Templates with addins can continue to be merged using Microsoft Word. This is possible because the configuration file defines which templates should run "Word free".

Will I need to change my templates?

No. The templates should work as they are.  There may be slight formatting differences so we ask that you check the printed document carefully.

Can we still produce PDFs?

Yes.  Using the Word free option the PDF's will be generated without Word and also without the need to have a separate postscript printer definition.

What parts of Word aren't available?

These are the known differences between the Word Free option and how merging occurred with Microsoft Word.

• The original process for creating templates was to use "header files".  These contained a definition of the fields to be expected in the Merge.  Header files are no longer checked in WordFree.  This should not be an issue because the data is always provided with a header and so any discrepancies can be identified.
• Older versions of Microsoft Word supported EPS files (encapsulated postscript).  Some customers have implemented templates with EPS files embedded.  These can be replaced with SVG files.  Not many EPS files are in use.

How much customer effort is required to implement the Word Free option?

Customers will not need to do much at all.  Most templates will simply just work.  We do recommend a controlled transition and will help implement one.

How much faster will the Word Free option be?

The speed increase depends on several factors.  

• Complexity of the template. More complicated templates were always traditionally slower.  Using Word Free, the most templates take a similar amount of time to merge.
• Repeating data sets. Merging templates with repeating data sets is notoriously slow.  This is true in Rent Statements and Job Tickets.  The Word Free option does not demonstrate any noticeable performance degradation with repeating data sets.
• Frequency of template use.  MergeIT will cache templates.  If a large batch of letters are merged using the same template the time taken is far less than a comparable amount of letters each using a different template.   
• Printer drivers.  After merging, the slowest part of the operation is normally sending the job to the printer.  Not all print drivers are equal and many are unable to safely work multi-threaded.  Quite often MergeIT has to queue jobs to prevent printer drivers from producing errors.
• Output to PDF. If the output is to PDF, print driver issues are eliminated using the Word Free option.  PDF files are generated much faster. 

In our tests we have been able to produce 1,000 PDF rent statements 100 times faster using the Word Free option.

In more typical usage tests, a mix of 1,000 varied templates being output to printers was 2.5 times quicker.  It used 50% of the CPU and memory resources. 

How long does the implementation take?

You go at your own pace. It should be possible to implement within an hour.

How do I get pricing information for the Word Free option?

Please contact your Orchard Account Manager for pricing information and ordering.

How to find out more.

For further information please get in touch, our contact details can be found here.