I do not generally even attempt to "Replicate" complex forms, but rely on the functionallity approach. e.g. Have the computer 'form' include the information, not the detail of layout, font ...
A convenient option in this approach is the 'Tab' control, which permits the grouping of the data in logical units (often - but not always - directly from the 'Form'.
From this, there are two ways I approach the report (printed version). First - easiest in my opinion - just position and size the DATA fields on a report to 'mimic' the paper version of the form and print to a printer with the paper forms in the paper tyay. It is often necessary to set the Font for different controls on the Ms. Access 'report' to be able to include the info entered in hte Ms. Access Form, as many "Forms Designers" in the paper world feel that their verbage is more important than user input, and therefore do not provide adequate space for the information. This approach is almost REQUIRED for some applications - where the "Forms Designers" feel like the form itself is a legal/contractual instrument. They will generally not accept even a variation in the font size or the 'registration' of the printed text.
The alternative - and probably more attractive - approach is to also re-do the report layout to accomodate the capabilities of report generation. Here, you would take the original paper form and inclde the printed material in a similar format, including the fields from the data entry (Ms. Access) form. You will almost always need to adjust the layout somewhat, as you will not be able to get the EXACT fonts and sizes. Even if you can, some other issues will cause problems. Even the "printable area" of most PC Printers will not allow you to match the paper form. Before attempting this approach, you should discuss and get WRITTEN agreement from the 'higher ups' that they will accept your form as a 'real' document at some level of correspondance to the original. Also, you should get a good idea of the degree of correspondence necessary (e.g. all preprinted info on same 'page' as original with a similar layout | must be almost exact in layout, some latitude allowed in font / font size but overall visual impression is that of a dulpicate | as long as it has all the info (preprinted and fill-in) and loks like a similar thing | ...)
If you need to reproduce the original, the use of the various bitmap images is USUALLY just to get various elements aligned properly. After creation of hte Ms. Access form, these are generally deleted, so the "HUGE" size is really only a problem fo the design cycle.
MichaelRed
redmsp@erols.com
There is never time to do it right but there is always time to do it over
