====== ReferralNet Word Plug-in ======

The ReferralNet Word Plug-in, as its name suggests is a plug-in to Microsoft Word with which to create and communicate documents through Microsoft Word to ReferralNet and other 3rd party interoperable message system recipients.

ReferralNets' Word Plug-in makes it easy to send reports directly from your favourite Word Processing application. The ReferralNet Word Plug-in includes the ability to encapsulate the source document within a compliant HL7 message and is fully integrated with the ReferralNet provider directory.

  * [[plugin/changelog|Release Notes]]
  * [[plugin/faq|Frequently Asked Questions]]

===== Known Issues =====

==== Use of images within Microsoft Word templates ====

It is strongly recommended that the use of graphics within templates be avoided, for two very important reasons;

  - The clinical application consuming the resulting message may not be able to deal with embedded images within an RTF stream.
  - Since the release of Microsoft Word 97, documents saved as Rich Text Format (RTF) that contain embedded graphics result in a dramatically increased file size.
     * http://support.microsoft.com/kb/224663
     * [[http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310516|How to create and use a registration entries file]]

   
If you must use embedded graphics (company logo etc), please ensure that you follow the below steps to avoid the expense of a large RTF payload;
    - Follow the instructions to **disable** the default management of exported images outlined in the above Microsoft article.
    - Re-size the graphic outside of Word using a graphics application (Paint, Picture Manager etc) before embedding it within your document / template.

===== Supporting Material =====

/* **Instructions**
  * {{:introduction.pdf|Introduction to the Word Plug-in}}
  * {{:using_the_word_plug_in.pdf|How to use the Word Plug-in}} */

**Configuring Microsoft Word**
  * {{:creating_templates.pdf|How to setup Word Templates}}
  * {{:setting_up_mail_merge.pdf|How to setup Word Mail Merge}}


===== Online Demonstration =====

  * [[:integration:microsoft_word|The Word Plug-in in practice]]