Form problems

[Matt]

Is it possible to have a word form that includes a checkbox, AND can it be
added to the the textbox of a drawing item?

The problem:
I have been using Visio and Adobe Acrobat professional to create forms fo my
business, but I have always been plagued by the fact that the forms aren't
dynamic. In order to change a form, I need to go through the entire process
of editing, creating as a PDF, and then completely recreating the fields,
what a pain. So, I am attempting to create the form in Word, so that I can
make changes as necessary, and simply re-protect the sheet to again limit
it's changes to adding data.

BUT.......!!!!!!

I can't add checkboxes (from legacy controls) to a textbox, so it can't be
laid out attractively (at least by using rounded edge boxes to separate
sections and make it look "pretty.

I also seem to be unable to combine newer controls and legacy controls on
the same page. If I include the checkboxes outside of the drawing objects
(not in a text box), I am able to get the the form at least fairly close to
functional, but, if I don't protect the page, I am unable to select a
checkbox, and if I do protect the page, I am no longer able to select the
newer controls.

Wouldn't it have been easier to include a checkbox (as well as any other
controls that would have been needed to duplicated the legacy controls)
rather than offer both, but making them difficult to use together???????

 

[Matt]

Is it possible to have a word form that includes a checkbox, AND can it be
added to the the textbox of a drawing item?

The problem:
I have been using Visio and Adobe Acrobat professional to create forms fo my
business, but I have always been plagued by the fact that the forms aren't
dynamic. In order to change a form, I need to go through the entire process
of editing, creating as a PDF, and then completely recreating the fields,
what a pain. So, I am attempting to create the form in Word, so that I can
make changes as necessary, and simply re-protect the sheet to again limit
it's changes to adding data.

BUT.......!!!!!!

I can't add checkboxes (from legacy controls) to a textbox, so it can't be
laid out attractively (at least by using rounded edge boxes to separate
sections and make it look "pretty.

I also seem to be unable to combine newer controls and legacy controls on
the same page. If I include the checkboxes outside of the drawing objects
(not in a text box), I am able to get the the form at least fairly close to
functional, but, if I don't protect the page, I am unable to select a
checkbox, and if I do protect the page, I am no longer able to select the
newer controls.

Wouldn't it have been easier to include a checkbox (as well as any other
controls that would have been needed to duplicated the legacy controls)
rather than offer both, but making them difficult to use together???????

Ok, I have found a solution - ALMOST..... It seems a little barbaric, but it mostly works. Instead of putting the table (which is being used to lay out the form) into the text box, I can simply have the textbox "appear behind text" and it accomplishes the same task (with a little finessing to get the layout right).

BUT.....

Even if I change all of the field from Rich text fields to legacy text
fields, I still want to be able to use the calendar ActiveX control for
selecting dates, but, as mentioned before, when I protect the sheet, I am
then unable to use the newer controls, and I can't find a "Calendar entry"
field in the legacy controls. Is there any way around this (either using
ActiveX controls on a protected sheet, OR a date selector in legacy fields)?

 

[Graham Mayor]

You can only use form fields in the text layer of the document ie on the
page itself or in a frame or table cell.
You could put the check boxes on the page and put a text box 'behind' the
text so the check boxes would appear to be in the text box, which you appear
to have discovered.
You can use a date selector with legacy fields -
http://www.gmayor.com/popup_calendar.htm

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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