Is it possible to scan or use a picture image of a form as a backdrop and then place my fields over top it. I'd like be able to use my offices paper forms from our computer and also make a database with the information that is filled in. That way when printed it looks like the actual form witht he info. typed in.
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making electronic form from paper form
- Thread starter sscastor
- Start date
I made a database for my wife with our sons picture as a background for all the forms and this is how you do it:
This is from the MS Access help file:
1. Open a form in Design view. (dah...)
2. In the Picture property box, type the path and file name for a .bmp, .ico, .dib, .wmf, or .emf file. (I use the .bmp file it works best this way)
3. In the PictureType property box, specify whether you want the picture to be embedded or linked. When you embed a picture, it's stored in the database file. If you embed the same picture in another form, it's added to the database file again. When you link a picture, you don't store it in the database file, but you must keep a copy of it on your hard disk. If you want to use your hard disk space efficiently, specify the Linked setting.
4. You can even resize the background picture using the PictureSizeMode property.
I hope all this help.
Regards.
Jerasi.
This is from the MS Access help file:
1. Open a form in Design view. (dah...)
2. In the Picture property box, type the path and file name for a .bmp, .ico, .dib, .wmf, or .emf file. (I use the .bmp file it works best this way)
3. In the PictureType property box, specify whether you want the picture to be embedded or linked. When you embed a picture, it's stored in the database file. If you embed the same picture in another form, it's added to the database file again. When you link a picture, you don't store it in the database file, but you must keep a copy of it on your hard disk. If you want to use your hard disk space efficiently, specify the Linked setting.
4. You can even resize the background picture using the PictureSizeMode property.
I hope all this help.
Regards.
Jerasi.
jerasi's solution will work but...
if you're going from office printed forms to e-forms as i did a few months back. beware of just a plain scan. you'd be surprised at how poorly forms are printed. your scanned image will likely look kindergarten art work. try & get the original pdf file or whatever & work from that. then j's solution is golden.
if they don't have or won't give then try & use a high-quality scanner. skewed line art is a pain to fix.
btw: i went thru the process of converting to e-forms. no help with e-files & no good scanner. i replicated the forms with report art. & it was still worth the effort (~ one day)... saved me gobs of time in the long run
rafe
if you're going from office printed forms to e-forms as i did a few months back. beware of just a plain scan. you'd be surprised at how poorly forms are printed. your scanned image will likely look kindergarten art work. try & get the original pdf file or whatever & work from that. then j's solution is golden.
if they don't have or won't give then try & use a high-quality scanner. skewed line art is a pain to fix.
btw: i went thru the process of converting to e-forms. no help with e-files & no good scanner. i replicated the forms with report art. & it was still worth the effort (~ one day)... saved me gobs of time in the long run
rafe
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