Unable to Select a Font

[JamesJ]

Hi. I'm very new to form design in Outlook 2003.
I selected the Contacts form in the Design a Form
from the Tools menu. When I select a field I am unable
to select a font. The Font combo box is disabled. Is
this normal? If so how do I change fonts or better still
can I create a form from scratch using a blank form?
Also, if I make changes to the Contacts form
will these changes be reflected the next time I
add or edit a contact or is there something else I
must do, other than saving the changes when closing
the form?
Any Help here will be appreciated.

Thanks,
James

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

You set fonts for text boxes and other controls in the Properties or
Advanced Properties dialog for the control.

 

[JamesJ]

When I right-click the text box and select Properties
the Font button is disabled. I didn't find a Font button
in the Advanced in the Advanced Properties of the text box.

James

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

If it's disabled, then maybe you're not working with a pure generic text
box? How did you add it to the page? Font is a property in the Advanced
Properties dialog, between EnterKeyBehavior and ForeColor.

As for applying the custom form to multiple contacts, you must publish it
and take additional steps to make it the default and possibly update
existing items;see http://www.outlookcode.com/d/newdefaultform.htm
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[JamesJ]

I'm simply selecting Tools-Forms-Design a Form. In the Design
Form dialog's look in: combo box I'll select double click Contacts
and a form which looks like the one Outlook uses when I add or
edit a contact opens in design view. I selected the Notes field
and I'm able to delete, move it and resize it but the Font selection
is disabled. If I say delete a field Outlook asks if I want to save
the form clicking yes simply closes the form and doesn't prompt
me for a name. I must be missing something!
I've been using MS Access for years and never had a problem
designing, saving or using forms to a point where I needed technical
support.

Thanks,
James

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Answers inline.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

I'm simply selecting Tools-Forms-Design a Form. In the Design
Form dialog's look in: combo box I'll select double click Contacts
and a form which looks like the one Outlook uses when I add or
edit a contact opens in design view. I selected the Notes field
and I'm able to delete, move it and resize it but the Font selection
is disabled.

Ah, that's not a text box at all. The item body is a complex rich-text
control. Its default font is governed by the user's settings in Tools |
Options.

If I say delete a field Outlook asks if I want to save
the form clicking yes simply closes the form and doesn't prompt
me for a name. I must be missing something!

What you're missing is that the Save Changes prompt that you're seeing
applies to the item and its embedded form. Outlook never prompts to save an
item.

If you want to save the form design itself, you can make a backup copy by
using the File | Save As command and saving it as an .oft file. For regular
use of the form, you need to publish it to an appropriate location; see
http://www.outlookcode.com/d/formpub.htm

I've been using MS Access for years and never had a problem
designing, saving or using forms to a point where I needed technical
support.

Outlook forms are not like Access forms. But you've already figured that
out, right?

 

[JamesJ]

Is the book ok for Outlook 2003?

James

Answers inline.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers





Ah, that's not a text box at all. The item body is a complex rich-text
control. Its default font is governed by the user's settings in Tools |
Options.


What you're missing is that the Save Changes prompt that you're seeing
applies to the item and its embedded form. Outlook never prompts to save an
item.

If you want to save the form design itself, you can make a backup copy by
using the File | Save As command and saving it as an .oft file. For regular
use of the form, you need to publish it to an appropriate location; see
http://www.outlookcode.com/d/formpub.htm


Outlook forms are not like Access forms. But you've already figured that
out, right?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Yes. Very little changed and most of that is documented at
http://www.outlookcode.com/d/ol2003problems.htm