how do i create a template with optional fields?

[Guest]

I have created a MS Word (2002) form with protected fields that works except
in one section, I need the users to be able to add an optional field if they
need it which will not be in every document. My example is a numbered list of
sections in the document
i.e.
1.0 section one
{protected field for user input}
2.0 section two
{protected field for user input}
3.0 section three
{protected field for user input}
3.1 section three dot one (indented)
{protected field for user input}
3.1.1 section three dot one dot one (indented farther)
{protected field for user input}

some documents will use 3.0, others will use 3.0, 3.1, 3.1.1 and still
others will use more indentation as necessary.
I hope this explanation makes some sense to someone who can help!

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi matthew,

Right off hand, I'd say you need a set of AutoText entries, formatted with the
appropriate style for the numbering-and-indenting. Then you need a toolbar with
buttons for each level. These would be linked to macros that would
- unprotect the document
- insert the AutoText entry
- reprotect the document without losing previous input

For the unprotect/reprotect you'll find macro code in the Forms section of my
website. You can record inserting an AutoText entry, but you'll probably need to
edit the macro manually to take care of making sure the AutoText is inserted in
the appropriate position (and you have to think about how to determine that!)

I have created a MS Word (2002) form with protected fields that works except
in one section, I need the users to be able to add an optional field if they
need it which will not be in every document. My example is a numbered list of
sections in the document
i.e.
1.0 section one
{protected field for user input}
2.0 section two
{protected field for user input}
3.0 section three
{protected field for user input}
3.1 section three dot one (indented)
{protected field for user input}
3.1.1 section three dot one dot one (indented farther)
{protected field for user input}

some documents will use 3.0, others will use 3.0, 3.1, 3.1.1 and still
others will use more indentation as necessary.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply
in the newsgroup and not by e-mail

 

[Guest]

Cindy,
You're awesome!!
Thanks very much. It sounds simple enough, I hope I can pull it off--it will
be huge brownie points with my boss and my office rep!!!
Isn't it funny that the more you learn, the more you realize you don't know??

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Matthew,

Isn't it funny that the more you learn, the more you realize you don't know??

Yeah, that does hit me from time to time <g> Good luck with your project!

Cindy Meister