Selecting in Formfields

[Diane]

I have created a number of protected templates in Word 2000. These require users to enter information using drop down fields, date, and free form text fields. Users need to be able to copy some of the data in the free form text field from one form to another sometimes (this can be one line, or many paragraphs). However, when attempting to select part of the text all is selected. Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V doesn't work nor does the mouse in selecting specific parts of text. Users are getting extremely frustrated and I am stuck. I do use REF fields where names and IDs are duplicated but this is not appropriate for text fields. I've searched help and the web for online forms but can find no reference to this being a problem. I can send a sample document if this would help. These forms are to be used by hundreds of staff so I'm under pressure to sort this problem as soon as poss. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?RGlhbmU=?=,

I take it these form fields have been inserted into table cells? This is definitely a
problem with form fields (all versions of Word). FWIW, my observations have been
slightly different from what you describe
- one can usually select from a point in the text to the end of the form field
- copying the selection is normally possible

This doesn't help the real problem, of course. Here are some approaches to consider

1. Place the free-text fields in FRAMES, rather than in table cells.

2. Use a macro solution (linked to a toolbar button / keyboard shortcut) that will
display the contents of the current form field in a textbox on a UserForm. They
should be able to select freely, here, and copy. You could even offer to transfer the
selected text to a particular target, if they'd usually be taking it to the same (or
a limited number of) places.

I have created a number of protected templates in Word 2000. These require users

to enter information using drop down fields, date, and free form text fields. Users
need to be able to copy some of the data in the free form text field from one form to
another sometimes (this can be one line, or many paragraphs). However, when
attempting to select part of the text all is selected. Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V doesn't
work nor does the mouse in selecting specific parts of text. Users are getting
extremely frustrated and I am stuck.
Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep 30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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