The Problem (Q-score 3, ranked #18th of 32 in the Word VBA archive)
The scenario as originally posted in 2009
I need to print 20,000 Word documents. Naturally this is a logistical nightmare. For example: if the power goes out, I need some software that will be able to resume where the printing failed. Also, this is something that needs to be done once a month by our client.
Do I have to write my own code to manage this? (Word Automation)
Or does anyone know of a tool that will help me do this? (Googling has not given me any good options. And I’m willing to pay!)
Why community consensus is tight on this one
Across 32 Word VBA entries in the archive, the accepted answer here holds strong answer (top 25 %%) status — meaning voters are unusually aligned on the right fix.
The Verified Solution — strong answer (top 25 %%) (+11)
Verbal answer — walkthrough without a code block
Note: the verified answer is a prose walkthrough. If you need a runnable sample, check Word VBA entries ranked in the top 10 of the same archive.
Outsource the job to a specialist printing company.
When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)
Ranked #18th in its category — specialized fit
This pattern sits in the 42% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the Word VBA archive for a higher-consensus alternative.
What changed between 2009 and 2026
The answer is 17 years old. The Word VBA object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.