Print over a paper form using MS Word or something

[CixiSan]

Hi everybody
This is my problem: I need too print out text on a paper form at
corresponding positions using an inkjet printer instead of using an
old tipewriter or filling it by hand.

The only approach I can think of is to scan the paper form and use it
as the background image of the form and put text boxes at
corresponding positions.

I have tried it is difficult to center the text boxes over the real
paper form.
Does anybody have any other ideas?
Please let me know.

Thank You for your help

 

[Jay Freedman]

Hi everybody
This is my problem: I need too print out text on a paper form at
corresponding positions using an inkjet printer instead of using an
old tipewriter or filling it by hand.

The only approach I can think of is to scan the paper form and use it
as the background image of the form and put text boxes at
corresponding positions.

I have tried it is difficult to center the text boxes over the real
paper form.
Does anybody have any other ideas?
Please let me know.

Thank You for your help

That's about the best you can do with Word or any other general-purpose software
that I know of.

There is a product intended for exactly that application, OmniForm from Nuance
Communications (http://www.nuance.com/omniform/). It's worth the $100 they
charge if you have a lot of forms to process.

 

[CixiSan]

That's about the best you can do with Word or any other general-purpose software
that I know of.

Sorry what do you mean?
Does it mean I can do it using word?
If so how?

There is a product intended for exactly that application, OmniForm from Nuance
Communications (http://www.nuance.com/omniform/). It's worth the $100 they
charge if you have a lot of forms to process.

Thank You..
I'm giving a look at it.
But it does not say it can print exactly on the form. I know I'm not
so expert in this kinda things because of that I'm asking help.
I'm afraid to buy a not useful thing for me.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ:http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so all may benefit.

Thank You
Regards
Cixisan

 

[Beth Melton]

Thank You..
I'm giving a look at it.
But it does not say it can print exactly on the form. I know I'm not
so expert in this kinda things because of that I'm asking help.
I'm afraid to buy a not useful thing for me.

I've undertaken this type of task numerous times and the success rate
depends on the pre-printed forms being printed by the printing company
*exactly* the same every single time. I've also found that's next to
impossible. Each time you receive a new batch of forms they are off
slightly. It only takes a slight change, such as a bit of a larger margin,
to throw everything out of whack. The only successful method I've found is
to recreate the entire form and print it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton

What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

 

[CixiSan]

I've undertaken this type of task numerous times and the success rate
depends on the pre-printed forms being printed by the printing company
*exactly* the same every single time. I've also found that's next to
impossible. Each time you receive a new batch of forms they are off
slightly. It only takes a slight change, such as a bit of a larger margin,
to throw everything out of whack. The only successful method I've found is
to recreate the entire form and print it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVPhttps://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton

What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

Beth how do you undertake this task?
That's my primary concern.
Do you mean print it "completely" or just scan and recreate the form?

I can't print it since it is made by special ink to avoid fake forms
or forged forms.
Thank You
Regards

 

[Beth Melton]

Beth how do you undertake this task?
That's my primary concern.
Do you mean print it "completely" or just scan and recreate the form?

I can't print it since it is made by special ink to avoid fake forms
or forged forms.

I recreate the form in Word so the entire printout is identical to the
preprinted form. IOW, the preprinted forms are no longer used. Scanning,
btw, doesn't work -- I start with a blank page. Those that are intricate are
very time consuming to perfect but hey, that's why they are paying me.

If your forms use a special ink then my method won't work. If you do decide
to tackle this using text boxes (I also use borderless Word tables) then it
does take a lot of trial and error and it doesn't matter what program you
use to do it. Getting the data to line up perfectly on the preprinted form
takes time. I have a client who must use their preprinted forms and every
time they recieve a new batch I need to go in and make adjustments so it
prints correctly -- it's a couple hours of work each time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton

What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

 

[CixiSan]

I recreate the form in Word so the entire printout is identical to the
preprinted form. IOW, the preprinted forms are no longer used. Scanning,
btw, doesn't work -- I start with a blank page. Those that are intricate are
very time consuming to perfect but hey, that's why they are paying me.

If your forms use a special ink then my method won't work. If you do decide
to tackle this using text boxes (I also use borderless Word tables) then it
does take a lot of trial and error and it doesn't matter what program you
use to do it. Getting the data to line up perfectly on the preprinted form
takes time. I have a client who must use their preprinted forms and every
time they recieve a new batch I need to go in and make adjustments so it
prints correctly -- it's a couple hours of work each time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVPhttps://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton

What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

Thank You Beth.
I'll try then to use word and guess the exact position.
The form are security related forms. I can't do otherwise.
I can do as much trials as i want since I have plenty of forms.

I'll let you know.

 

[Beth Melton]

Thank You Beth.
I'll try then to use word and guess the exact position.
The form are security related forms. I can't do otherwise.
I can do as much trials as i want since I have plenty of forms.

I'll let you know.

Good luck!!

Another note to make is if you find yourself making the same changes
over and over again then check your pre-printed forms. It's likely they
aren't printed the same. What I found works best is to hold two forms placed
together up to the light and verify the alignment. Do the same each time you
print to make sure you are actually working with identical forms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton

What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs