The Communication tab of the Preferences dialog box is where you'll set preferences for ACT!'s word processing and faxing features. In the General tab, you can set the default locations for    ACT!'s ancillary files, such as documents.

To set the default word processor:

1. Click Tools | Preferences. The Preferences dialog box appears.
2. Click the Communication tab.
3. In the Word processor dropdown, select either Microsoft Word or the ACT! Word Processor.
4. Click OK.

From ACT!'s Write menu, you can write template-based letters to any contact in your ACT! database. Template letters will appear in the default word processor--either the ACT! Word Processor or Microsoft Word.

When letters created from within ACT! are printed in the word processor, a history of the letter having been sent can be automatically created in the History tab for your contact. Best of all, field information from your ACT! database can be sent over into your letters, so you'll never have to re-type someone's address in a letter again.

When you click Write | Letter, ACT! launches a letter that's based off a template in the template folder of your database supplemental files folder. (By default, the database supplemental files system is located within My Documents\ACT\ACT for Windows 9\Databases\.) You may want to edit the letter, memo, or fax cover page template that ACT! uses by default. Use the list below to figure out the name of the file that ACT! uses to create these documents:

To write a simple letter:

1. Go to the contact for whom you'd like to create a letter, memo, or fax cover page.
2. Click Write | Letter to write a letter.
3. Click Write | Memorandum to write a memo.
4. Click Write | Fax Cover page to write a fax cover page.
5. The letter, memo, or fax cover page will appear in your default word processor.

If you have created customised letter templates, then it's easy to write documents based on these letter templates to your ACT! contacts. Creating custom templates is covered in the next issue of Tips & Tricks. To create a new custom template, click Write | New Letter/Template.

ACT! 2007 supports synchronisation of supplemental ACT! documents such as document templates and attached documents. When setting up a remote sync database, you'll have the option to synchronise these files with the remote user.

To write other template-based letters:

1. Go to the contact for whom you'd like to create a document.
2. Click Write | Other Document.
3. Locate the template you'd like to use as the basis for the document.
4. Highlight the document template and click the Open button. ACT! will create a document for your current contact based on the template you selected.