Please help creating a form in Word

[JM]

Please see this link: http://home.midsouth.rr.com/themitchells5

I am trying to create a document in Word that mirrors the form at the top.
What I need seems pretty basic, but I have fought Word every step of the
way. I just need the document to look like the hard copy form, with
*unchangeable*, *unmovable* fields, cells, spaces, lines - whatever - into
which the data will be entered. I'd like the user to be able to insert
their pointer in the first field (Case number), enter the number, then tab
right on through, entering the necessary data.

My first attempt used form fields (with a table at the bottom), which
accomplished the look, and I could tab from field to field. However, I
could not make the fields lock in place so that the format remained
stationary. For example, if the text in the "family name" field went beyond
5-6 characters, the "date" heading and field starting moving, regardless of
how I set the character limits in form fields properties. I tried the lock
command, saving with various security settings, but nothing worked. This
seems so basic, but I can't figure it out.

Next I tried tables, but I had similar problems.

Please educate me on how to accomplish what I'm trying to do.

Thank you very much for any assistance.

jm

 

[Jezebel]

You're on the right track. Create the whole thing as a table (not just the
bit at the bottom), and use formfields within the table cells.

 

[JM]

Thank you.

Can I lock the table cells, where they won't move, expand, or "multiply?"

Also, should I use one table per line? Because I need the cells to be
various sizes.

jm

 

[Charles Kenyon]

Use fixed-size table cells to hold your fields. What you are talking about
is what Word calls an "online form." Check this in help. For more about
online forms, follow the links at
http://addbalance.com/word/wordwebresources.htm#Forms or
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/FillinTheBlanks.htm especially Dian
Chapman's series of articles. You may also want to look at
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFms/LinesInForms.htm.

Hope this helps,
--

Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide


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This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
from my ignorance and your wisdom.

 

[Charles Kenyon]

You can have various sizes for cells all within one table. You can fix the
height and width of table cells.
http://addbalance.com/usersguide/tables.htm.
--
Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide


--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
from my ignorance and your wisdom.

 

[JM]

Thank you, I really appreciate the links, and I will dedicate study time to
them.

However, can you please help shorten the learning curve and explain to me
how to make these table cells retain their size and shape? What option or
set of options am I looking for that will make the fields completely static,
regardless of the users' actions - typing, return key, insert, etc?

thank you very much,

jm

 

[Charles Kenyon]

With your cursor in the table select properties under the table menu (or by
right-clicking). Click on the options button and uncheck the option to
resize cells. Set an absolute row height.
--
Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide


--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
from my ignorance and your wisdom.

 

[JM]

Thank you for your answer, but I still cannot make these cells/fields hold
their place. Regardless of the options I try, tutorials I read, Googles I
do, etc, I can hit "enter" on my keyboard in a cell and extend it forever.
How do I fix or "freeze" the cell to stay the size I want it?

Please tell me what I'm missing.

thank you,

jm

 

[JM]

Thank you, Charles. This entire time I was missing one option, the "Row
height is *exactly* . . . " All day I've been messing around with this
thing, with the option set to "Row height is *at least* . . . . " Damn
drop-down box ; )

Thank you again,

jm