Can you provide some basic template help?

[salad]

I downloaded a template from Microsoft. When I open the document I
might see something like
Name [grayblock] Address [grayblock]

If I right click on the grayblock and select Properties, I see it is
something called a TextForm Field. It is also a bookmark with a
bookmark name like Text15.

If I go to the Name grayblock and enter a name, the greyblock keeps on
moving to the right. It doesn't clear out. Why is that?

If I enter my name and then press Tab (normal Windows method of moving
to the next field, the greyblock and everything to the right moves thus
upsetting the formatting of the template.

Are the grayblocks necessary? Can they be removed?

How does one move from field to field?

Are the [] around the grayfields necessary? What is their purpose...to
signify where entry occurs?

If I use this template as a master, and then copy it to c:\test\Test.Doc
(or fill in some fields and SaveAs c:\test\Test.Doc) is there a way to
merge some data to it? For example, I might have a list of employees.
I want to fill the master template with some data from only 1 record
from the employee list then File/Save it to a new file. Or open the
template, write data form the list to their respective bookmarks, and
save.

Thanks

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I suspect that what you are experiencing is a result of the form not being
protected. Once the document is protected for forms (Tools | Protect
Document), you will be able to tab from field to field.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[salad]

I suspect that what you are experiencing is a result of the form not being
protected. Once the document is protected for forms (Tools | Protect
Document), you will be able to tab from field to field.

I set the protection to "Limit formating to a selection of styles", then
editting restrictions to "Filling in forms", and then assigned a
password. This now allows me to tab from field to field. Thank you.

My question is now regarding the gray fields. If I enter some data into
the grayfields,
Name: [grayfield] Address: [grayfield]
my name and address are contained in a block of gray. When I do a print
preview, they too are in gray. I don't see a property to change the
gray to opaque. Is there a way to achieve the removal of the grayblock
for what I would consider a cell or a textbox/textfield?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

When the form is unprotected, you can remove field shading (there is a
button for it on the Forms toolbar). Note, too, that you don't really need
to password-protect the form if only you will be using it, and the styles
restriction has nothing to do with forms, so you can omit that. Unless you
need to protect only specific sections of your form, you can also use the
padlock button on the Forms toolbar to lock and unlock it, which is much
simpler than going through the Protect Document task pane.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

I suspect that what you are experiencing is a result of the form not being
protected. Once the document is protected for forms (Tools | Protect
Document), you will be able to tab from field to field.

I set the protection to "Limit formating to a selection of styles", then
editting restrictions to "Filling in forms", and then assigned a
password. This now allows me to tab from field to field. Thank you.

My question is now regarding the gray fields. If I enter some data into
the grayfields,
Name: [grayfield] Address: [grayfield]
my name and address are contained in a block of gray. When I do a print
preview, they too are in gray. I don't see a property to change the
gray to opaque. Is there a way to achieve the removal of the grayblock
for what I would consider a cell or a textbox/textfield?

 

[salad]

When the form is unprotected, you can remove field shading (there is a
button for it on the Forms toolbar). Note, too, that you don't really need
to password-protect the form if only you will be using it, and the styles
restriction has nothing to do with forms, so you can omit that. Unless you
need to protect only specific sections of your form, you can also use the
padlock button on the Forms toolbar to lock and unlock it, which is much
simpler than going through the Protect Document task pane.

Thanks you so much. I would never have found that Forms toolbar for
shading...and for Padlocking were it not for your assistance. I suppose
if the end users want to unlock it they can since they won't be working
with the master document but a copy of it.