Office & productivity software forum: Copy and Rename files in One Step?

Thank you for your suggestion. Unfortunately I have discussed doing the personalized messages with my employer, but he insists it be personalized files. I will try to find someone who can write a macro for me.

If I found someone that understands VBA already, do you have any idea how long it would take them to make the macro (or how much they might want for that type of "job")? I would be willing to pay someone something to do it, but want to have a rough idea of how much time and money it would take since it would come out of my pocket rather than my employer's.

then why care? And, especially, why pay for a program yourself?

Did you buy your own PC, your own license of MS Office? I don't think so. The subtle way: if he ask you to do something urgent, say "I would love to do it, but I really have have to get out those files this afternoon. So I can't have it ready before tomorrow 11 PM. Why don't you have something written to do it automatically?"

Kees

Amazingly, I did have to buy my own computer and license for MS Office. I got a corporate discount, bit I have to provide all the programs and supplies for my job except for programs that are proprietary to my employer. Also because I work from my home, I have to buy a printer and all my office supplies. My employer's attitude is "you have a job, and can write off the business expenses on your taxes so live with it, or get another job." Until 6 months ago I had a co-worker, whose entire job was this copying and renaming process and all I had to do was create the "invitations" and make the party plans based on the RSVPs. However, my employer decided to lay-off my co-worker and have me do both tasks.

Since I am a salaried employee, my employer doesn't care how long it takes me to do the work or when or how I do it. They just want it done. While my employer doesn't seem to understand how much work I have or how long it takes; I have a decent salary and retirement and great health insurance and a "flexible" work schedule (since I can work whatever hours I want as long as the work gets done). The salary is not enough to actually hire someone to do part of my job every week/month; but is probably enough to pay someone to make me a program for a one time charge.

I am looking for a better job, but it is tough to get one these days; and if I quit I do not qualify for unemployment. So I am trying to find ways to get the work done with less time. If I do, it helps with my current workload and looks good on the resume when applying for other jobs.