Hi all first time login to the forum and wondering if someone can point to a fix.

I am developing a set of standard word doc templates for contractors to write their O&M manuals for a project.

I need uniform headers to enable extraction later so used restrict editing function to lock the document structure and styles. I placed "free" text fields under each header so an author can type, copy/paste, insert images, graphics, tables shapes etc. However I cannot insert a text box into the free fields even though protection does not apply there. Anyone know why and how to fix it?

As I said shapes are permitted so I have a work around of sorts as they can hold text but this then requires additional guidance and training which I want to avoid.

What kind of editing restrictions are you using? Is there a reason for inserting textboxes rather than single-cell tables? The latter have the advantage of remaining in the main text layer.

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

Hi thanks for your response. I'm using the restrict editing function then defining exceptions with free sections defined i.e open to all. The reason they'd need text boxes is to make call outs and mark up schematics or diagrams. Yes they could do this in a separate doc, group it or snapshot it, but I hoped to achieve standard functionality in the doc where editing is allowed.

With that form of editing restriction, callouts, for example, can be attached to any unrestricted range, via Insert>Shapes. Similarly, you can insert rectangular shapes and use the 'Add Text' option to give them textbox functionality.

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

Just a note for doing Internet searches on this, I believe you mean "headings," not "headers." These two similar terms refer to very different Word features.

Thanks macro I guess it's just a Microsoft design decision. Have to say I don't see the logic in it. I've defaulted the shape format in the template to an unfilled black border. Strange but the default text colour cannot be changed which means it appears white and hence invisible until changed to black font colour. Again a strange choice to allow you to set the format of some but not all the shape attributes.