Fields (include text) in form won´t be actualized when printing

[Markus Merkler]

Hello Newsgroup!

I´m not sure if I hit the right group?! If anybody could
help me, I would appreciate it.

In the past, we made a lot of forms for our company in
which we use fields (include text) for filling in e.g.
username, address, phone number etc. especially for every
user. Now we decided to use Office 2003 for the future and
I had to test our forms (running perfect under Office
97/2000) with Word 2003.

Here the problem starts! No one of the fields will be
changed to the proper content while printing. We use *.txt
files as data-source. All preferences in the menue "Tools -

Options -> Print" are set (update fields, update links).

If I update the fields manually, it works fine, only when
I try it automatically while printing, it doesn´t work.

The fieldfunctions are written as followed:
{INCLUDETEXT "c:\xxxx\user\userid01.txt" *\MERGEFORMAT }

I searched the newsgroups but didn´t find a hint for my
problem. I would appreciate any help from the group.

Please excuse my poor English, I´m originally from Austria.

Greetings from Austria

Markus Merkler

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Salü Markus,

See if the information in this Knowledge Base article helps,
try setting the Registry key it mentions:

http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=330079
WD: How the Behavior of the Word Fields Changes After You
Install the Word Update

In the past, we made a lot of forms for our company in
which we use fields (include text) for filling in e.g.
username, address, phone number etc. especially for every
user. Now we decided to use Office 2003 for the future and
I had to test our forms (running perfect under Office
97/2000) with Word 2003.

Here the problem starts! No one of the fields will be
changed to the proper content while printing.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep
30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow
question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail

 

[Merkler Markus]

Hello Cindy!

Thanks for your fast reply. I knew this KB-Article, but it
works only in conjunction with Word 2002 and the named
update. I used the workaround on some other machines
(using Word 2002) and it works fine.

But in my situation it doesn´t work. Word 2003 declines
obstinatley to do it´s job. We tried the changes in the
registry but without any success :-(

I already installed the two patches for Word 2003 without
any success.

I wonder if I´m the only one with that problem?! I also
tried to use *.doc files as source for my ID entries but
it´s the same problem.

Manually updating of the fields, as a work-around, is also
not usefull, because it doesn´t work with protected forms.
I tried a new form (starting with a blank page), because I
thought it could be a conversion problem (Word 2000 vs.
Word 2003), but that for neither works.

Now I´m at the end of my knowledge and fantasy! Maybe
somebody of this newsgroup has a solution?!

Greetings Markus

Equipment:
Compaq Deskpro Workstation
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 - 1.4GHz
RAM: 1 GB
OS: WinXP Professional (no ServicePack installed)
Office: MS Office Professional Edition 2003

Also tested with:
Notebook Compaq E500
CPU: P3 (mobile) 2.2Ghz
RAM: 512 MB
OS: WinXP Professional (SP 1)
Office: MS Office Professional Edition 2003

 

[Graham Mayor]

You could force an update by running a macro on exit from the form field
The code needed is at http://www.gmayor.com/installing_macro.htm

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Merkler,

Manually updating of the fields, as a work-around, is also
not usefull, because it doesn´t work with protected forms.
I tried a new form (starting with a blank page), because I
thought it could be a conversion problem (Word 2000 vs.
Word 2003), but that for neither works.

How about if you activate the "Calculate on exit" checkbox in
a few of the form fields. When you then tab out of such a
field, are the links updated?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep
30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow
question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail

 

[Merkler Markus]

Hello Cindy!

Your proposal works only with a standard text field. I use
the "function" of word to include a field with an
automated function (includeTEXT) from word.

Thats how I insert such a field:
Insert --> Field --> (choosing) includeText

I found out, that if I put on of the fields into the body
of the sheet and mark all content, its possible to update
the fields (by pressing F9). The only problem is, my
fields are "hidden" in the header and footer of the sheet.
These areas won´t be marked without double-clicking them
(not possible in protected documents)!

I´ll try the proposal of Graham Mayor with the macro soon.
I would rather prefer a solution without a using a macro,
but in my situation I´m glad about any solution. I´m not
familiar with macros by now, but his homepage has the
title "Idiot´s guide to install a macro" so I hope I´ll
check the procedure ;-)

Thanks for your help! If you have any further idea, I
would be glad to try it, please feel free to post it.

Greetings from Austria, Markus Merkler

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Merkler,

Your proposal works only with a standard text field. I use
the "function" of word to include a field with an
automated function (includeTEXT) from word.

Actually, I'd have thought it should work with IncludeText
fields as well, but in the body of the document, not in the
h/f (something you didn't mention in the original message).

I´ll try the proposal of Graham Mayor with the macro soon.
I would rather prefer a solution without a using a macro,
but in my situation I´m glad about any solution. I´m not
familiar with macros by now, but his homepage has the
title "Idiot´s guide to install a macro" so I hope I´ll
check the procedure ;-)

Thanks for your help! If you have any further idea, I
would be glad to try it, please feel free to post it.

One more idea that doesn't involve a macro. I'm not sure it
will work, but I hope it might:

1. Put the IncludeText fields into the document body and
format them as "hidden".

2. Select each, and Insert/Bookmark to assign a bookmark

3. In the h/f insert REF fields to display the IncludeText
content. Be sure to put a \* CharFormat switch at the end of
the REF fields (and *no* MergeFormat switch) to override the
hidden formatting.

The REF fields in the headers and footer should update as
soon as you look at the document in Print Preview or send it
to the printer, as long as you have the option to update
fields activated in Tools/Options/Print (and maybe even if
you don't).

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep
30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow
question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail