Microsoft Word communications are communications based on a template created and maintained in Microsoft Word. All Microsoft Word templates are associated with either participants or cases. When a user creates a Microsoft Word communication for a participant, the list of templates available is filtered so that only those templates associated with participants will appear on the list. The application supports integration with Microsoft Word, i.e., it automatically opens and closes Microsoft Word as required. Note that Microsoft Word communications will not be issued to participants who have a communication exception that prevents them from receiving mail.
Microsoft Word communications can also be integrated with a content management system through the configuration of application properties as part of administration. If an organization chooses to integrate attachments with a content management system, the generated Microsoft Word document will be stored in and retrieved from the content management system. Information about the Microsoft Word communication can also be stored in the content management system along with the document. For example, the reference number of the case in which the Microsoft Word communication was created and information about the correspondent of the communication can be stored along with the document. For more information on integration with a content management system, see the Cúram System Configuration Guide and the Cúram Content Management Interoperability Services Integration Guide.
Like pro forma communications, the communication is always hard copy. Unlike pro forma communications, users can customize a Microsoft Word communication before sending it. When a user creates a Microsoft Word communication, the application creates a Microsoft Word document by retrieving text from a Microsoft Word template and then populating additional information from the application, such as participant information, into the document using place holders defined in the template. The application highlights the text that has been populated into the document. The caseworker can then go in and edit existing text or add new text to the document as required before saving and sending the Microsoft Word communication to the correspondent.