[mso] Re: Help with word form template fields - Again
- From: "Dian Chapman" <dian@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:19:07 -0600
Hi...
Well, Bear says he's not an expert, but much of what he told you will work.
On the other hand, I am a Word forms expert...that's my forté. To see just
some of what you CAN do with forms...see my project samples here:
http://www.mousetrax.com/Consulting_Solutions.html
And yes, there are several ways to go about this...it all depends on your
skill level and, as you said, how much you want to learn.
You can do the REF thing, which I explain in this article:
Pass Repeated Information in a Word Document
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=224
You'll find a pile of additional articles/tutorials on forms here:
http://www.mousetrax.com/techpage.html#autoforms
As for having info in a spreadsheet to do many letters, that gets more
complicated, but doable. However, rather than a spreadsheet, I'd strongly
suggest an Access database, since linking a DB is easier than an Excel
spreadsheet because the ADO (ActiveX Data Object) "Provider" (driver) you
code to link to a DB is better than the one for a spreadsheet...and DBs are
more reliable with data entry than spreadsheets. That said, there is a
Provider for Excel, so you CAN link to spreadsheet...I just run screaming
from those projects<g>, cos' using a true DB is much more reliable.
If you check out my projects, you can see that I have some like that. For
example...the one I did for an Animal Hospital
(http://www.mousetrax.com/Consulting_Solutions.html#vet). The DB contains
all the patient/owner info and, when medical services are needed, the
receptionist can easily choose the needed form, enter the owners info,
choose the desired pet (if more than one) and the medical release form is
filled out and ready for printing/signature. But also understand that that
project took weeks and cost the client about $1500 to have created.
However, if you do want to learn how this stuff works (form <-> Database
connectivity), I have a sample form/db with open code, here:
Please Fill Out This Form, Part 5
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=136
Download here: http://www.mousetrax.com/DownloadsFormsFive.html
The above article is the very beginning of what you can do with DB
connectivity to Word AutoForms...my vet project is a higher end project.
But for your letter, you can also do something easier, by creating either a
series of simple input boxes to ask for each piece of info...or create one
custom dialog box that asks for all the info, i.e., name/address/gender (for
Mr./Ms. Etc), and then have that info dropped into the various locations of
the letter. I don't have a simple sample handy, but if you check out this
more elaborate letter/memo wizard I did...you can get the idea of how this
can work: http://www.mousetrax.com/Consulting_Solutions.html#Wizard
And if you want to see what's involved in creating a custom dialog box, you
can check out this article:
Creating Custom Dialog Boxes
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=15
Finally, know that I have a dedicated group for Word VBA, that also covers
all forms questions and everyone in there is doing similar stuff as you're
trying to do, so lots of help available there and if you go to the site's
files, lots of samples and more tutorials. You'll find that WORD VBA group
listed here: http://www.mousetrax.com/resources.html
Good luck!
Dian D. Chapman
Technical Consultant, Microsoft MVP
MOS Certified Instructor, Editor/TechTrax Ezine
Tech Editor for Word & Office 2007 Bibles
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Dian.Chapman
Dian's Soldiers' Angels Blankets
http://www.mousetrax.com/dian/angels.html
http://www.wardogs.org
Free Computer Tutorials: http://www.techtrax.us
Free Word Tricks eBook: http://www.mousetrax.com/books.html
Learn VBA the easy way: http://www.mousetrax.com/techcourses.html
-----Original Message-----
From: mso-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mso-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of ohtechie
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 2:39 AM
To: mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [mso] Re: Help with word form template fields - Again
Ok I replaced the macrobutton fields with word form fields.. and it seems
to look like what I want and need except 2 things. First unless I'm doing or
did something wrong.. the protect part doesn't' really stop or even slow
down someone from editing the boiler plate text. Anyway to correct that?
(just click the little lock and it's open)
Next is that this is basically a letter.. at the top is
Name
company
address
title
then I have
Dear blank... I want this to automatically fill in the name from the name
block above. How do I accomplish that?
And as this looks like it's going to be one of many I'll be doing in the
near future.. any tutorials to learn from?
These letters are request letters so ideally I would love to have a
spreadsheet created/filled/updated with the information. Any ideas on that
as well.. tutorials etc.. I'm more than willing to learn... need pointers to
the info lol.
Major TIA to one and all
-----Original Message-----
From: mso-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mso-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Chinell, David F (GE EntSol, Security)
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 11:55 AM
To: mso@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [mso] Re: Help with word form template fields
It sounds like you're selecting and replacing MACROBUTTON fields with
text. Toggle Field Codes to see the underlying field type you're dealing
with.
For the behavior you describe, you want to use Word Form Fields. For
these, the text of the document becomes "locked" and only the content of
the fields you create can be edited. You tab from field to field using
the Tab key, which does not insert a tab character.
Bear
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If you are using Outlook and you see a lot of unnecessary code in your email
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To be able to share files with the group, you must join our Yahoo sister group.
This group will not allow for posting of emails, but will allow you to join
and share problem files, templates, etc.:
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SHARING ONLY.
If you are using Outlook and you see a lot of unnecessary code in your email
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