Forum Discussion
Create document custom content type WITHOUT opening Word
I'm giving up. I don't think SPO can do a few things, but the below is the quickest "solution" for us though it is very far from ideal
I have several document based content types. They work fine. I have a document library. I want to create a content type document and just have it created in document library, and then I can edit the properties. We create a dozen or so of basically the same document every day. A handful of changes to document properties (quickparts>document property being the solution). When I create the custom document content type it opens up a version of word. I can then SAVE the document and proceed from there, but the opening of Word is a needless action (I think). Of note, my custom document types are .dotx.
The final product must be a document. If not there is no point since it'd be quicker to just create the document outside of SPO and Flow.
5 Replies
- I would suggest looking at it another way and start with a list where you specify the document properties and then use Flow to create the document with the quick parts update. BUT there isn't a Word Document connector so you would need to use Plumsail in the meantime as I suspect it is planned at some time.
This post talks about how someone has done it with that connector. https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Microsoft-Flow-Community-Blog/Create-DOCX-Word-document-from-template-based-on-dynamic-data-in/ba-p/79389Thanks, I tried the "list where you specify the document properties and then use Flow to create the document" and there are some items that Flow won't recognize. The two big problems are:
1. I have a select value column based on another list - that doesn't move. So I have to create a NEW column (since you cannot edit a select column into something different, which is great fun since it means every document type will have to get updated).
2. The BIGGER problem is creating the document type. So I have, for example Tree Contract, Grass Contract, Dead Body Contract as 3x content types. I cannot, in a list, find a way to select the document type. I thought I could just have a selection and then an if statement, but I cannot figure out how to make that work as the If <selectcontenttypeColumn> contains <Dead Body>, then create file with that content type.
If I could get past problem 2 it can be done with existing sharepoint/flow.
Try using the copy file action in Flow of a document that is the correct content type, it should then create a new file that has the content type already associated. In this model, you would have a list where the properties are specified and the document type, a library with templates associated with the correct content type and a library where the files are created. When a user adds a new item to the list, copy the file for the associated content type and then update its properties with the list fields, last step will be to use the Plumbsail connector to update the Word controls.
