Keep lines from moving in Word forms

[dawnd3]

Hi there, I have Word 2003. I am creating a form and I am using the line from the drawing toolbar to create lines under the fields. To test it out, I lock the form and if the text needs to wrap or if I hit the carriage return, it actually inserts a carriage return and moves the lines below down one. I thought locking it would keep that from happening???? Please help.

Dawn

http://www.calliopeconsulting.net

 

[SkipVought]

Hi,

What is the reason for the lines being drawn?

Skip,

_{[red]Be advised:[/red] When you ignite a firecracker in a bowl of vanilla, chocolate & strawberry ice cream, you get...
Neopolitan Blownapart!}

 

[dawnd3]

I draw the lines so that lines will be there whether the applicant fills out in Word or prints out to fill in. I draw the lines instead of using the dashes because, if I do something like change the font, it doesn't mess with my lines. Is there another way to do this?

Thanks,

Dawn

http://www.calliopeconsulting.net

 

[SkipVought]

If you are using form fields, make the form font UNDERLINE.

Skip,

_{[red]Be advised:[/red] When you ignite a firecracker in a bowl of vanilla, chocolate & strawberry ice cream, you get...
Neopolitan Blownapart!}

 

[SkipVought]

BTW, I use this technique on my lease froms. Works with drop downs too.

Skip,

_{[red]Be advised:[/red] When you ignite a firecracker in a bowl of vanilla, chocolate & strawberry ice cream, you get...
Neopolitan Blownapart!}

 

[dawnd3]

So then what do you do when you want to just have the lines there and no text? The form field is very short without text. There will be many times that they will want to print out the form and fill it in by hand.

Thanks again,

Dawn

P.S. I take it that this means there is no way to lock the drawing lines into place when you lock the form?

http://www.calliopeconsulting.net

 

[SkipVought]

For fill-in-the-blanks, you'll need underlined SPACES.

Skip,

_{[red]Be advised:[/red] When you ignite a firecracker in a bowl of vanilla, chocolate & strawberry ice cream, you get...
Neopolitan Blownapart!}

 

[dawnd3]

Well, that doesn't really work in this case, because when you type in the form fields it moves the spaces over and then moves the next field over. (and yes the form is locked.) That is why I used the drawing lines. It is frustrating that you can't lock everything but the fields! I really appreciate you trying to help me.

Take Care

Dawn

http://www.calliopeconsulting.net

 

[SkipVought]

duh, you're putting SPACES in the boxes BEFORE you type in them????

You ONLY do that if you're NOT going to type in them.

Skip,

_{[red]Be advised:[/red] When you ignite a firecracker in a bowl of vanilla, chocolate & strawberry ice cream, you get...
Neopolitan Blownapart!}

 

[dawnd3]

No I put the spaces in the space that I want the line to stretch. Then in front of the spaces I put the form field. I guess I am just not sure of how to do what you are saying and get what I need. It sounds like you are talking about making 2 forms, one to print out and one to type in? Is that correct?

I think I am just going to leave the way it is and hope that people filling out the form don't use the carriage return. I set limits on the characters of the form fields so that they would not wrap to the next line. I think this is the best way to use the form as both a fill in form or a print out form.

Again, I appreciate your help.

Dawn

http://www.calliopeconsulting.net

 

[eman6]

You don't have to use underline font. You can use Format_Borders and select the lower border.
By the way, if you use tabulation with underscore as leader, would be more practical.

Good luck.

Eman_2005
Technical Communicator

http://www.smartistek.com

 

[dawnd3]

The format boarders won't let me put just a bottom border in this case, it only allows a full boarder. (maybe a bug?) And if I use the underscore tab leader, there is a small gap between the bottom boarder and the underscore. I need it to be one solid line. The tab leader thing is a great idea if I am just looking to print it out but if I want to fill out the form in Word, it won't work.

Thank you,

Dawn

http://www.calliopeconsulting.net

 

[dawnd3]

I just want to add, the way I am doing it, with drawing lines below the form field, it works beautifully. The form fields don't effect the lines and visa versa.

The only issue is that the lines will move, as will the rest of the document, if someone inserts a carriage return while filling it out. Well that is going to happen whether I use the underline tool, bottom boarders or the tab leader. My main concern is that locking the form doesn't lock the ability to insert carriage returns and thus the form and lines can still be moved around.

Thanks again,

Dawn

http://www.calliopeconsulting.net

 

[eman6]

In the border and shading dialog, at the lower right corner select Paragraph in the Apply to, rather than Text.
That should allow you to have a lower border.

Eman_2005
Technical Communicator

http://www.smartistek.com