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This Microsoft Word Tips & Microsoft Word Help page demonstrates steps you can take to add, map and employ a repeating section content control in Word versions 2013 or higher documents using my Content Control Tools template add-in.

Background

The repeating section content control (RSCC) is a content control enhancement introduced in Word 2013.  Using a RSCC, users can repeat multiple instances of content, including other content controls, in their documents.  The Content Control Tools add-in simplifies adding, mapping and employing a RSCC.

Demonstration

In this demonstration, I will create a Word table for listing information about a company product line including product name, UIC, unit of issue and price.

• Create the required table structure and fill in the headings.

• Using the Advanced Mapping page tab of the add-in, I will create a new CustomXMLPart and define the basic XML structure for the product data. This means a single parent node "Product" that contains four child nodes "Product_Name, UIC, Unit_of_Issue and Price." For this demonstration, I'm going to add a "Pre-defined XML Part" and modify its structure to suit the requirements. 

Notes:
1. If you are familiar with creating an XML script, you can add your own script to the document using "Add New Part ..." feature of the tools.

Add the CustomXMLPart



Select and delete all child node of the root node CC_Map_Root



Select the root node CC_Map_Root and append a new node



Define the node to append and click "Append"
This node serves as the parent node for the four required child nodes



Select the "Product" node repeating the steps illustrated above,
append the four required child nodes



Note: The append tool automatically converts spaces entered in the
Node name  field to underscore "_" characters

• Add and map the repeating section content control.

Select empty row



Select the "Product" node and insert a Repeating section content control



Define the content control title and ensure "Allow users to add and remove sections" is checked

• Add and map plain text content controls in the repeating section row cells.

Select the "Product_Name" node and insert a plain text content control



Define the content control title



Repeat the steps illustrated above to add and map the remaining plain text controls.


The repeating section content control shown above is completely mapped and ready to employ

• Employing the repeating section content control.

Enter data for the first product item



Add, insert, remove sections as required

Why Map?

Repeating section content controls can be created and employed using Word's native user interface with or without the associated mapping that have I demonstrated here.

Mapping provides easily exportable data that can be used in other applications.  The data is stored in the defined document CustomXMLPart.  Using the "View XMLPart" feature of the tools, you can create an XML text file for this purpose.

Several years after publishing this tips page, I had a requirement to nest and map repeating section content controls within a parent repeating section content control.

Word's built-in user interface for appending or inserting a new parent repeating is completely inadequate for the task. Should you have a similar requirement, please contact me for compensated consulting work.

Conclusion

That's it! I hope you have found this tips page useful and informative.

This page was last updated on March 09, 2021

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