[Jeanne814]

I am creating a form that will be used by others to request changes to
software applications. The form has a few basic fields: Requestor,
Approver, Dates, and 2 drop-down boxes for Application and Request Type, and
also needs text fields and free-form space.
I used the forms toolbox to successfully create part of my new form, but I
am having trouble with the text fields and the free-form space.
1. Text field: When I lock the form, it correctly tabs to the text fields
I have defined and will allow me to enter as little or as much text as I need
BUT - all the formatting options are unavailable. I can "new line" with the
enter key, and can indent with CTRL-TAB, but I cannot use bullets or
numbering. I need these text fields to behave like MS Word and give the user
the ability to tab, indent, bullet or number, highlight selected sentences,
etc. None of these usual formatting functions are available when using the
Forms toolbox to create a text field. Am I using the wrong tool?
2. I need an area in the document that is regular MS Word and NOT part of
the form so that the user can copy and paste samples from a source that will
NOT be pre-defined. For example, I tried to copy and paste a screen shot
(using the Prt Scr and Paste functions that I have used successfully in
regular Word and Excel documents) but received an error message when I tried
to paste the screen shot into a Text form field. I also tried to copy and
paste selected cells from an Excel spreadsheet (again, using the Copy and
Paste functions that I have used successfully in regular Word and Excel
documents) but the resulting data in the Text form fields lost the cell
spacing (ie, the data ran all over the place!).

I have reviewed many of the help info here. I tried sections, thinking that
I could have a section of the Word doc use the form and another section not,
but as soon as I lock the form, I cannot tab to any area not defined by the
form.

Thank you in advance for your help!

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

What you are experiencing are some of the restrictions imposed when using
protected forms. As an alternative that avoids them, use a userform.

See the article "How to create a Userform" at:

http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Userforms/CreateAUserForm.htm


--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"Jeanne814" wrote in message
...
I am creating a form that will be used by others to request changes to
software applications. The form has a few basic fields: Requestor,
Approver, Dates, and 2 drop-down boxes for Application and Request Type,
and
also needs text fields and free-form space.
I used the forms toolbox to successfully create part of my new form, but I
am having trouble with the text fields and the free-form space.
1. Text field: When I lock the form, it correctly tabs to the text
fields
I have defined and will allow me to enter as little or as much text as I
need
BUT - all the formatting options are unavailable. I can "new line" with
the
enter key, and can indent with CTRL-TAB, but I cannot use bullets or
numbering. I need these text fields to behave like MS Word and give the
user
the ability to tab, indent, bullet or number, highlight selected
sentences,
etc. None of these usual formatting functions are available when using
the
Forms toolbox to create a text field. Am I using the wrong tool?
2. I need an area in the document that is regular MS Word and NOT part of
the form so that the user can copy and paste samples from a source that
will
NOT be pre-defined. For example, I tried to copy and paste a screen shot
(using the Prt Scr and Paste functions that I have used successfully in
regular Word and Excel documents) but received an error message when I
tried
to paste the screen shot into a Text form field. I also tried to copy and
paste selected cells from an Excel spreadsheet (again, using the Copy and
Paste functions that I have used successfully in regular Word and Excel
documents) but the resulting data in the Text form fields lost the cell
spacing (ie, the data ran all over the place!).

I have reviewed many of the help info here. I tried sections, thinking
that
I could have a section of the Word doc use the form and another section
not,
but as soon as I lock the form, I cannot tab to any area not defined by
the
form.

Thank you in advance for your help!