how to fill in preprinted forms with word

[echinn]

I need to fill in a multipage (4) form weekly. Some information is the same.
Is there a way to scan in the form and use as template, then fill in and have
it print on the form? I just need to fill in the blanks on the form do not
want the form itself to print?

 

[DiSSo]

As far as I know, no, there is not. The only ways of doing this would be
either scanning the document, making the image the background image, and then
trying to match up the text with the blank fields, or by scanning the
document and running OCR (optical character recognition) on it to convert it
into text. You will loose some formatting in the process, and I don't think
OCR is availible with all versions of Office (I know it came with Office 2003
Professional). Good Luck.

 

[jdsjones]

What I've done when having to fill in forms that I don't have electronically,
is to make copies of the master form, and then manually set up a
documentadjusting margins, and using tabs or tables for the areas of the form
that need to be completed. This is a trial and error method and you can go
through a lot of paper getting it set up, but once you have your master
fill-in doc, save it and then you will have what stays the same, and edit
what needs to be edited, and print directly onto the actual form.