Errors when working with unprot and protctd sections in Word97-SR1 1

[JPeters]

Fellow Guru's;
I've had this problem for quite some time now. The document I designed is used as a template that is standard to fill out after a visit to a client. It informs them of things they need to correct before our next visit. The document begins with form-fields (that are protected) in which they can enter their name, tab to the date, tab to other things and such. These form fields are then pasted as links onto the headers of each of the following pages, this way their info will be atop each page that the client recieves.
After this they have an unprotected section in which the user can type comments. These comments can go on forever, but we've found that if they go on for over four lines, the next page remains blank (aside from the header of the form-field links). The sections then move back to protected and there are more form-fields and some legal information that we don't want the agents to be able to mess with (our lawyers would kill us). The docment then moves to an unprotected section of cells that the user can tab through and add dates, items that need correcting, etc.
The user then prints it, signs it, and mails it.

Here's the main problem. Sometimes the agents are getting error-link messages on the links from the form-fields ... i belive this is an error to the way they are saving the document, it's very irritating because i cannot get this problem to reproduce itself. It always works fine for me. A ghost-problem, if you will.
The second major problem is the comments section. The entire document is standard about 2 pages; however, (as I mentioned before) if the user adds too many lines in the comments section, it forces the sections that would be on page two down to page 3, leaving page 2 blank except for the header. This is very irritating because we don't want a blank page here.
Are there any ideas as to what I am doing wrong with this? Or any questions that I could clear up. I know this is sort of a scatter-brained post. Please reply, this has been giving me greif for about 6 months now. I'd like to fix this before the end of January if at all possible. -Happen609
Wasting more of your valuable time...

 

[Dreamboat]

Sure. Don't leave anything unprotected.

For "free text", you don't have to leave it unprotected. Let them type all they want into a text form field. To restrict the amount of text, put it into a table cell (one column, one row, if need be) that is exactly XX inches high.

I'll review the form for you, if you like, happen. Just email to dreamboat@nni.com and I'll "tweak it up" and let you know what I did and how I did it. And I'll copy here, of course.

http://www.PiersonTech.com

dreamboat@nni.com
Brainbench MVP for Microsoft Word

 

[ssa]

Why are you Using Word97 with SP1? - To Start it should be SP2b as there are Known Issues with Word and Excel without SP2b, and the case of Y2K!

 

[Dreamboat]

I have no problems with forms in SP1, so I doubt that will resolve the problem. But, of course, it's always a very good idea to stay up to date!

http://www.PiersonTech.com

dreamboat@nni.com
Brainbench MVP for Microsoft Word

 

[JPeters]

Dreamboat & all,


Thanks for the replies, but I'm a little bit confused. I need to have parts of the document protected for legal purposes. I don't want the field guys using the form to even have the opportunity to mess with it. We've had it unprotected in the past, and they've managed to mess it up. On the idea of limiting the amount of text available to type, I'm not sure that would work. Sometimes these guys need to type a full page of comments, other times 1 line will suffice. What do you think. I'll wait for a reply then if push comes to shove I'll send it over to you Dreamboat. If you manage to make it work, it'd be great if you could tell me how you did it... there are 3 forms that I'm working on. All with identical problems. I appreciate the replies.

Thanks a ton. -Happen609
Wasting more of your valuable time...

 

[JPeters]

One more thing. I can't get form-fields to work properly unless the document is protected so that the user can just tab (or shift-tab) through them. -Happen609
Wasting more of your valuable time...

 

[Dreamboat]

Send it, happen. I'm home and have time NOW! LOL

http://www.PiersonTech.com

dreamboat@nni.com
Brainbench MVP for Microsoft Word

 

[Hasit]

Form fields only work in a protected doc. My only suggestion other than those made by Dreamboat is to specify comment to be only 4 (or whatever) number of lines. If this section is protected too, then it forces the user to be concise (and perhaps precise) in their comments.

As far as saving the document in a different format than the one you require for the links to work, have you considered adding a button at the end of the document called "SAVE" or something like that that runs a macro and saves the file in the format you require rather than giving the users a choice on the file format?

 

[Dreamboat]

Now that you've received that notif, here's some more info.

Let's say you want page (tho it does not have to be broken down by pages--read on) three and four to be protected.

What you need to do...


Put a section break at the bottom of page 2, and another at the bottom of page 4. These can be "continuous" section breaks; or "next page" section breaks if you happen to also be using the section break as a page break.

Then, when you need to protect, you hit Tools-Protect document. Choose "forms". When there are section breaks in the document, the Sections button becomes available. Hit it. You should now have 3 section in your document:

Section 1 = pages 1 and 2.
Section 2 = pages 3 and 4. (The one you want to protect.)
Section 3 = pages 4 and 5.

Choose to protect section 2.

http://www.PiersonTech.com

dreamboat@nni.com
Brainbench MVP for Microsoft Word

 

[JPeters]

Dreamboat,

This is how I setup the original document. I'm going to send it over to you and have you read my first post again so you can get a picture of where I'm sitting at. I'll email you the password to unprotect the document as well.

Thanks -Happen609
Wasting more of your valuable time...