Can merge fields be entered into text form fields?

[Greg]

Walt,

As an alternative, you can use the following macros to
unprotect and protect your documents:

Sub Unprotect()
On Error GoTo Ignore
MsgBox "The form is not protected."
ActiveDocument.Unprotect
Ignore: Err.Clear
End Sub

Sub Protect()
On Error GoTo Ignore
ActiveDocument.Protect Type:=wdAllowOnlyFormFields,
NoReset:=True
MsgBox "The form is now protected."
Ignore: Err.Clear
End Sub

The NoReset:=True prevents the fields from resetting.

To make using these macros relatively seamless, I have
replaced the Lock/Unlock toggle icon on my Forms toolbar
with a Lock and Unlock icon set to fire the appropriate
macro.

HTH

-----Original Message-----
We are using a Word mailmerge to populate forms used in a

courtroom. This is only a stop-gap until a new database
is finished, but we've encountered one large problem- The
form has a number of {FORMCHECKBOX} entries, which make it
very simple to fill out the form. Occasionally, something
entered from a mergefield needs to be edited on the form
(eg new address). The problem is that the form must be
unprotected to edit text on the form. Renabling the
protection on the form clears all the checkboxes, forcing
the user to begin from scratch. This is a real headache
as there may be 30 or 40 forms in the merged document. I
have read the answers to posts about splitting the merged
document, and considered this as a solution. But this
particular situation is fast-paced, and there is no time
to be hunting for and opening a new document for every
form.

So here's the question:
1- Can a Word merge field be set as the default entry in a text field?
Or will using ActiveX check boxes eliminate the problem?

(Even though it's difficult to place them exactly where
you want them in relation to text)

Also
2- Can a text form field with the calculation option set

calculate the totals of numerical merge fields? (This
would solve the most common problem of changing the
default amount being awarded by the court on the form.)