Header/footer problem in Microsoft Word

[killerclick]

I need to create a Microsoft Word document with a letterhead. This is obviously easily done with header and footer and I did a nice one in Illustrator and imported it into Word. However, when I finish editing header/footer, the header/footer looks washed out and pale. I understand that that's normal because it's a print preview but I really need the header and footer to be in full color when the recipient opens it on his/her computer. I tried Insert > Picture instead and while that's in full color, it can be selected and moved. I tried protecting the document but that still allows the image to be selected and notifies the user that the document is protected which is not what I need.

I need an unmovable, unselectable, full color, exactly-as-in-Illustrator image in the background of my Word document. Can anyone please suggest how can I do it?

Yes, I tried changing the page background but that also displays a pale image in the print preview (which is the default view for most people who use Word).

 

[Lilliabeth]

Word is a word processor... allowing the manipulation of text. You don't want the document protected, so having something that can't be moved or even selected is a pretty tall order.

If I were you, I would download a free pdf writer and convert the Word documents to .pdf before sending.

I use CutePDF.

--Lilliabeth

 

[killerclick]

I want users to be able to change everything in the document except the background. That can be done with header/footer or page background except that Word doesn't display the background properly in print preview.

As for Word being a word processor, that's of course true but Word is still widely used for document exchange. Printing anything is a bit passe nowadays so print preview shouldn't be the default view for Word, that's the problem. Microsoft's software always assumes too much and allows too little.

 

[macropod]

Hi killerclick,

Is the document supposed to be editable by the recipient? If not, convert to PDF and send them the PDF.

You say "I tried protecting the document but that still allows the image to be selected". That is not how a document protected for forms works - unless the image is in (or attached to) an unprotected Section.

Cheers

[MS MVP - Word]

 

[killerclick]

>Is the document supposed to be editable by the
>recipient? If not, convert to PDF and send them the PDF.

Well I'd like the text to be editable but not the background, that is not by simply clicking on it, it might be distracting to people who are reading. I like how header/footer works but unfortunately it's washed out and there is no option for it not to appear washed out in default reading mode.

Oh well, Word is crap, what else is new?

 

[BlueHorizon]

KillerClick,
Word is a very powerful program when used well and allows for much customization of documents. However, to make what you want to happen, have you tried creating a protected form with text fields where you want the document to be editable? In this way, you can put your header information directly in the document and allow editing only in certain fields.
HTH,

Best,
Blue Horizon

 

[killerclick]

Yay I got it!

I just insert the .emf picture into the header (or as a watermark) and then Format Picture and change its Brightness to 25% and Contrast to 75%. It screws up the colors somewhat but not by much and it's extra contrast and lower brightness compensates for that washed out look that Word just had to enforce.

 

[macropod]

Hi killerclick,

You really ought to learn how to use the software before complaining about its capabilities.

There is not need to mess around with either the contrats or the brightness to overcome the pale on-screen appearance you get by putting the image into the header. You can achieve the same thing with the image in the body of the document. It's simple:
1. Insert a continuou Section break immediately before the area that you want to remain editable. It doesn't even matter if there's no paragraph mark before this, but you might want to format the section break's implied paragraph with 0 leading and a 1pt font size - to minimise is visual impact.
2. Insert your image wherever you want it, and format its layout as 'behind text'.
3. With the image still selected, move its anchor so that its attached to the section break before the area that you want to remain editable.
4. Protect the document for forms, leaving Section 2 unprotected.

The user can now type anywhere in the editable area, but cannot select or move the image. As a bonus, they can't change the first page header, either. There are various other editing restrictions with document protected for forms, but they usually don't cause much drama in situations like this.

Cheers

[MS MVP - Word]