Forms & Merging

[Robin]

Am new to this, so please forgive my lack of clarity. Am
creating forms that require input from users. Forms
consist of checkboxes and forms fields. Most of the
forms are protected, and we are using them in a document
management system. All documents have comments.
Documents are merged with a database. When the document
is merged to a new document, the information in the form
fields disappears. I really want to use the Forms
Toolbar for these forms because it is easy. But perhaps
I am not going about it the correct way. I have also
used FILL-IN fields, but some forms have too many user
entries tomake FILL-IN fields practical. I also want to
automate the forms so that users don't have to click
File>Print to select printing w/o mark-ups.

Also, as an aside, I want to take advanced classes that
include forms and VB scripting. Any recommendations for
vendors in the Alexandria, VA area? Thanks in advance
for any help you can give me.

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

Hi Robin,

Formfields as used in a protected document will not survive the mailmerge
process. I gather that you are entering the data into the formfields before
executing the merge. If that is the case, if you run the following macro
before executing the merge, it will unprotect the document and unlink that
data entered into the formfields so that it becomes like any other text in
the document

Dim ff As FormField
ActiveDocument.Unprotect
For Each ff In ActiveDocument.FormFields
ff.Range.Fields(1).Unlink
Next ff

To get started with forms and vba see the article "How to create a Userform"
at:

http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/Userforms/CreateAUserForm.htm

and other items at that website.

You might also look at:

Pease Fill Out This Form
Part 1: Create professional looking forms in Word
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=22

Part 2: Adding Automation to your Word forms.
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=46

Part 3: Learn more VBA (macros) to automate your forms.
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=119

Part 4: Use custom dialog boxes in your Word forms
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=127

Part 5: Connect your AutoForm to a database to save input time and keep
better records!
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=136

Please post any further questions or followup to the newsgroups for the
benefit of others who may be interested. Unsolicited questions forwarded
directly to me will only be answered on a paid consulting basis.

Hope this helps
Doug Robbins - Word MVP