Editing/deleting in Word form fields--won't let me select or editonly small sections of text.

[Michelle]

I've created a template lesson plan form in MS Word--it contains various
form fields, check boxes, etc.

My problem is that if I've typed into a text field, in order to delete or
edit my typing, I can only backspace and delete ONE LETTER AT A TIME!
Attempts to drag and select certain parts of the text results in the entire
section being selected.

Is this normal? It's very frustrating when I'd like to cut/paste from one
section of the text field to another section of the same text field. Or
when I'd like to delete several words or sentences. It tends to want to
either select everything before the cursor or everything after the cursor.

Is there any way around this or is this a shortfall of forms?

 

[Michelle]

Clarification--I can double click and select one word at a time, but that
seems to be the limit. No dragging to select more than that unless I want
everything before or after.

 

[Michelle]

Any ideas, comments, or feedback about this issue?

 

[CyberTaz]

I'm sorry you've gotten no responses, but I can assure you that you're query
hasn't been ignored I for one have been trying - with no success - to
force the same behavior here and haven't been able to do so. Having never
seen this & not being able to replicate it makes for a very difficult
analytical process - if ya' can't cause it ya' can't fix it

As a workaround, have you tried positioning the insertion point at one end
of the passage then pressing the Shift key while clicking at the other
end?... I prefer that to dragging anyway. You can also Command-Click a
sentence to select it (but in a Text field it doesn't seem to work for the
*last* sentence in the field).

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Michelle]

No luck with that idea.

I tried positioning the insertion point at one end of what I wanted to
delete, pressed the shift key, and then clicked the other end of what I
wanted deleted. No luck. It still highlighted everything from the
beginning of the insertion point to the end of the passage--even if I only
wanted a portion of that. It completely ignores where I click the 2nd time
with the shift key. It just highlights the complete chunk of text from the
insertion point to the end.

So, basically it works the same as when I tried to click and drag. It
highlights everything from the first click to the end (or beginning)
depending on whether I'm dragging forward from the insertion point or
backwards.

 

[CyberTaz]

Sorry that didn't help - did you try the Command-Click?

This is a Text Form Field created with the tool on the Forms Toolbar, right?

What version of Word is this? Is the problem with *all* Text Form Fields or
just a specific one? If just a specific field you may try replacing it with
a new one. Have you tried other docs to see if the behavior is universal?

I still haven't been able to reproduce the problem, and I suspect it is
rather rare... Otherwise I'm sure someone else would have chimed in by now.

As a straw at which to clutch, try copying all but the last ¶, paste to a
new blank doc & see if things behave there.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Michelle]

It seems to be in all text form fields--at least in that document--haven't
tried another document. This is in Office 2004 with the latest updates.
Yes, the fields were created with the forms toolbar.

Is there a way for me to send you the file that I've been using to see if
you notice anything?

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Michelle:

If Bob doesn't get back to you in a few hours, please send the file to me
here at this address.

I have created an exception for you through my firewall.

Cheers

--

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. GMT + 10 Hrs

+61 4 1209 1410, <mailto:[email protected]> mailto:[email protected]

 

[CyberTaz]

I'd be happy to take a look at it. You can stuff a copy & send it to the
address in the header - just remove the word "only" and the "." between
"com" & "cast" ( and that's the number "1" following the "z", not the letter
"l"). I'd also suggest that you take John McGhie up on his kind offer - he
probably has some tricks up his sleeve that I've not yet seen

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[John McGhie]

I doubt it I'm as confused as Bob is: there is something fundamental we
do not know currently -- we need to see the document to find out what it
is...

Cheers

--

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. GMT + 10 Hrs

+61 4 1209 1410, <mailto:[email protected]> mailto:[email protected]

 

[Michelle]

I sent the template and a document to both of you.

 

[John McGhie]

And I replied as follows:

Hi Michelle:

Oh Wow!! It took me half an hour to find that -- in the past thirty years,
that's the FIRST time I have ever noticed that!!

It's an interaction between FORMFIELDS and Tables.

If you convert the tables to text, the fields work normally.

How about you turn the problem around? Keep the form fields, remove the
tables, and use drawn lines for your borders? Or: Edit your text outside
the form fields then paste it in in a "finished" form.

Sorry: It's "working as coded" (i.e. that's what FORM fields "do" in
tables. We may not like it, but that's the way it works...)

Form fields have been deprecated. They will be replaced by "Content
Controls" in the next version of Word. You will be pleased to hear that
Content Controls work the way you would expect

Hope this helps

--

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. GMT + 10 Hrs

+61 4 1209 1410, <mailto:[email protected]> mailto:[email protected]