Modaless Word in form

[rkolva]

I need to create a VFP form by where the user can manipulate the text of a Word doc. They also need to be able to drag and drop field names from a list box onto the doc. Essentially my form becomes a wrapper around Word that provides some control over manipulating a mail merge template.

I've gotten as far as making Word a child window of my form. I'm unable to figure out how to change the 'WindowType' of Word so that both my form and Word have focus together.

Is this even possible?

I guess another option might be to use an rtf control?

Thanks

Ralph

 

[Mike Gagnon]

Why not the Word Document Activex on the form?

Mike Gagnon

If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ184-2483 first.

 

[rkolva]

Thanks Mike,

I dropped it on my form but I think it'll take me a little while to figure out how to work with it.

Ralph

 

[Mike Lewis]

Ralph,

Rick Strahl has an article in this months's (June 05) FoxPro Advisor that might help. Essentially, he suggests that instead of trying to embed Word in a form (which gives rise to several problems), you drop a web browser control on a form, and use it to programmatically navigate to a Word documents.

It might be worth considering.

Mike


__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My sites:
Visual FoxPro (www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk)
Crystal Reports (www.ml-crystal.com)

 

[bborissov]

Why not just add a RichText Control in your form?
It is easier to manipulate, and you can save the contents in regular MEMO field, not in GENERAL (I hate them ))


Borislav Borissov

 

[rkolva]

Thanks Mike, Mike and Borislav

Sorry about not thanking you and Borislav for your comments sooner but yesterday was a hectic day. Please forgive me.

Unfortunately I don't have a subscription to Advisor, I should change that, so I can't view the article, but I'll look at adding a browser control to the form. If that is Rick Strahl's suggest it can't be bad. At least now I have three options to test.

1 Word doc activeX control
2 Browser control
3 RTF control

I still like the idea of using Word in some fashion as most people are used to working with. They may hate working with it but at least it's familar! The RTF control is probably provides the most control with the least effort and may be what I eventually use.

I've got a few days before I really have to produce a prototype form but I'll try and post back what I eventually went with if anyone is interested.

Thanks again,

Ralph Kolva