Word 2007 Template Creation 062609

[Jax]

I am trying to create a report document to be filled out by people in the
field. There are certain items that need to be filled in; i.e. date,
location, etc. These are followed by lines to be completed on the computer
or manually.
I am trying to follow the instructions in "Help" but when I get to Start
Enforcement, "Yes, Start Enforment" is greyed out. I want them to be able to
enter info without moving the lines.

I have checked all the threads, and although some come close, none match
what I am trying to do - they are not using lines, but rather text boxes

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

For general help on creating protected forms, see
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/FillinTheBlanks.htm and especially
the forms tutorials by Dian Chapman that this article links to. In order to
use form fields in Word 2007, you will need to display the Developer tab
(Office Button | Word Options | Popular: Show the Developer tab in the
Ribbon) and then use the Legacy Forms controls from the Legacy Tools palette
in the Controls group on that tab.

Word 2007 also has a new type of forms controls called "content controls,
which are also inserted from that Controls group. Note that these controls
are not backward-compatible, so they are appropriate only if all users have
Word 2007.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Jax]

Thank you. This is very helpful.

For general help on creating protected forms, see
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/FillinTheBlanks.htm and especially
the forms tutorials by Dian Chapman that this article links to. In order to
use form fields in Word 2007, you will need to display the Developer tab
(Office Button | Word Options | Popular: Show the Developer tab in the
Ribbon) and then use the Legacy Forms controls from the Legacy Tools palette
in the Controls group on that tab.

Word 2007 also has a new type of forms controls called "content controls,
which are also inserted from that Controls group. Note that these controls
are not backward-compatible, so they are appropriate only if all users have
Word 2007.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Jax]

When I go to the View tab, there is nothing that allows me to add tool bars.
Any ideas on why I don't have this option?

 

[Jay Freedman]

The material in the article about toolbars is for Word 2003 and
earlier. That's why Suzanne told you about the Developer tab and the
Legacy Tools button, which are the Word 2007 equivalent. Word 2007 has
only one toolbar, the Quick Access Toolbar.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
newsgroup so all may benefit.

 

[Jax]

The material in the article about toolbars is for Word 2003 and
earlier. That's why Suzanne told you about the Developer tab and the
Legacy Tools button, which are the Word 2007 equivalent. Word 2007 has
only one toolbar, the Quick Access Toolbar.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
newsgroup so all may benefit.

 

[Jax]

It took awhile to locate the Legacy Tools. Since I am trying to get this
form completed and into use, I am not doing the exploring I would normally do.

I am unable to lock the text that needs to be locked. I am not sure what
the best choice is for filling in text.

I am setting up a document which is similar to a Sales Call report. In
other words, I need Date, Location, Who, etc and this text needs to be
anchored or locked so it doesn't move.

I need a place where the user can fill in the information requested - it is
free form and not multiple choice as in drop downs and check boxes.

I think that is it for now.

I have a form that looks pretty good, but when I try to use the text boxes,
the questions on the form move.

Please help.

 

[Jay Freedman]

The solution for this is the same as it was in all earlier versions of Word:

- Insert one or more tables in the document.

- Put the unchanging text into some of the cells, and put the form fields
into other cells -- one form field per cell.

- On the Table Tools | Layout tab of the ribbon (which is visible only when
the cursor is in a table), click the AutoFit button and choose Fixed Column
Width. That prevents the cells from expanding sideways as the user types in
the form fields.

- On the same ribbon tab, click the Select button and choose Select Table.
Then click the Properties button.

- In the dialog, click the Row tab. Check the box for Specify Height, and
enter a value for the height -- probably 0.25" is right, but it depends on
the font size you're using. Then open the dropdown on the right and choose
Exactly. Click OK. The exact row height setting prevents the cells from
expanding downward.

- Protect the document for forms.

When someone types into a form field, nothing else will move. If they type
more than will fit into the fixed cell size, the extra text just disappears.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[jstern]

I have accessed the "Restrict formatting and editing" dialogue via the
Developers tab and set the "editing restrictions" to "Filling informs" but
still the "Yes, Start Enforcing Protection" button is unclickably gray.

 

[Jay Freedman]

If the Design Mode button on the Developer tab is active, click it to turn
it off.