word 2003, formfields

[rmanchu]

hi

i have setup a form and protected the document for editing form fields
only. it works fine.

now, i want to leave an area in the middle for users to enter arbirary
data. now the problems is that area cannot be edited while in the above
mode. what's the way to overcome it?

background info.

am setting up a compla templates and the form fields (dropdowns) are
loaded via VBA from an excel file.

dropdowns cannot hold more than 25 items? i might require about a
hundred. i'm thinking i'll start using the combobox control on the
document. is this appropriate?

if anybody has any good suggestions, i'll be happy to hear/read them

thanks
riyaz

 

[Stefan Blom]

i have setup a form and protected the document for editing form fields

only. it works fine.

now, i want to leave an area in the middle for users to enter arbirary
data. now the problems is that area cannot be edited while in the
above
mode. what's the way to overcome it?

Can't you use a text form field for this? You can put it in a table cell
with fixed dimensions if you want to limit the amount of space this
"free area" should be allowed to occupy on the page.

 

[rmanchu]

hi thanx

i just wanna confirm a few things with this approach. am not at my work
computer so i can't test, sorry

1) is there a text length limit
2) can it go to multi lines? what about right-to-left languages?
3) can formatting be applied

riyaz

 

[Stefan Blom]

1. Not unless you specify a limit (a specific number of characters).

2. Yes. Users can even press ENTER to insert new paragraphs. I don't
know about right-to-left, but I don't see why it shouldn't be supported.

3. You can apply direct formatting or a style when designing the form
field, but users will not be able to after you've turned on form
protection.


Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP