I need to be able to scan a paper form into Word 2003 and create a template from the document so that I can enter new text into the existing text fields. I then want to be able to send the new text to my printer so that it will be added to sheets of the original paper form.



To be clear: The paper form is in A4 and consists of eight identical blocks which request information regarding event bookings. Line1: Name of Venue
Line 2: Gate of Venue, Line 3: Time of Venue, Line 4: Address of Venue Location, Line 5: Contact at Venue. These appear similar to the layout of an Avery address label.

I would like to be use my pc/Word to enter the information relating to each separate event and then send it to my printer so as to print the data into the various fields as per above. I do not want the text from the original scanned document to also print because I will be (hopefully) printing to the predesigned paper which has the sets of tickets perforated.

Any help greatly appreciated.
Or any better solution even if it is not Word based!

I'd suggest using the appropriate labels template (from Tools>Letters & Mailings>Envelopes & Labels>Options) and carefully positioning text formfields into the labels (table cells), so they're positioned where the content needs to appear on the pre-printed stock, then protecting the document for forms. That way, you don't need the scanned image to be in the document and content can only be input in the formfields.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Paul

Thank you for your reply. I can see how to create a new label template in Word but I am a little uncertain as to how I should enter the suggested text boxes and particularly how to position them accurately. Word does not seem to offer an x,y coordinate facility. You also mention protecting the result. Once again, not sure. Sorry but I do not pretend to be a Word expert (or even close)! Any additional help welcome.

I did not suggest using textboxes, but text formfields - an entirely different feature. You can position them with the usual paragraph before/after spacing, indents & tabs.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Why can't you just set up a 4 x 2 table and type your required text into it and print it into the forms that are already pre-printed, making sure that the borders of the table cells are not to print?

Yes, I like the idea of the table but as I have said before , I do not pretend to be a Word expert. I found it easy to place a 2 column 4 row grid onto a blank document but when I try to enlarge the individual rectangles to exactly fit a4 it spreads down to a second page. So, a bit confused!
Surely in order to be able to ensure that the blocks exactly compare to the 105mm x 74 mm on the original sheet I have to create a table that does just that. Please tell me if I have got this all wrong and point me in the right direction.

Your problem might be that when you try to drag the table borders they go in little jumps, and though these are little, they may be just too much! If this is, in fact, the problem, press Alt while you drag and you will find that you can move them as much or little as you like.
Also, if you try to move a border to a part of the page (the bottom) which is below the margin setting then it will go to another page. You need to move the bottom margin right down as low as seems reasonable before dragging the table border. Do you know how to do that?

Not meaning to interupt nor confuse the issue but, if you are working with a table:

Another potential solution is to adjust each column, row or cell using the Table Tools Properties. To do that:

- Left click just above the top line of the table cells (the cells will highlight and the cursor will turn to a downward arrow).
- Once you do that, the Table Tools Layout tab will appear above the ribbon (far right-hand side); click on the "Layout" tab (the Layout ribbon will appear)
- Click on the Table "Properties" icon (far left-hand side) (the Table Properties menu appears)
- From here you can adjust the table by row, column or cell to your specifications. It may take some fiddling to get it as precise as you need.


Hope this is helpful...

Does this work with 2003? There's no ribbon in this version.

Darn it! I did it again (did not pay attention to the version of word being used).



In 2003: Click on the "Table" tab at the top of the screen & click on the Properties menu to adjust your row, column or cell.

Hi whitland,

It might be easier if someone does the basic setup for you. To that end, can you attach a document to a post with some representative data (delete anything sensitive)? You do this via the paperclip symbol on the 'Go Advanced' tab.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]