Underscores and TextBoxes

Please help and much thanks in advance for any and all suggestions ...

I would like to create a form using Word 2002 SP3 to do the
following:

> Allow for use offline by printing and filling in data by hand with a pen on lines (such as dates, signatures, etc.)
> Allow for using a PC to complete the form electronically by filling in the same lines as blank fields.

Sounds simple to me, but I am having some significant challenges. I
have created the form and used tables to do so.

In the individual fields I have used checkboxes and text boxes. I
have learned how to control the text boxes to some extent, including
their properties.

My challenge lies in the fact that in order to put a place for data on
the printed form I have used an underscore line. The "text box form"
is placed where the data needs to go and then underscored to a certain
length to permit the user to print out the form and fill it in
manually.

This prints out exactly as I had hoped. However, if instead of
printing it, I use the PC to enter the data then underscores are
bumped out and this ruins the form. What it comes down to is that I
need a way to size the text box so that the default size is changed to
fit the size of the field. I cannot find any method to change the
size of the text box. I can limit the amount of text, but that is not
what I need to do, as that still does not prevent the underscores from
being undesirably extended. I have protected the template by locking
it to no avail.

As an alternative to underscores I have tried creating the lines using
AutoShapes, but that proved difficult to control the exact placement
of a line and the form has dozens of them.

Is there any way to control the size of a Text Box so that it is the
width of the field needed? It appears to be about 8 or so characters
wide and I thought I might 'widen' the box and this would be the
solution. Perhaps not. If this is not the optimal approach all other
suggestions will be appreciated. Please note that I am not asking how
to control the number of characters in a box - that I can do. I am
asking how to control the width of the box so the it can be completed
without extending the underscore lines. Your suggestions are most
welcome ...

Since you used a table, forget about underscores or autoshapes and just turn
on the bottom borders of selected table cells. See
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFms/LinesInForms.htm.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

diyguy wrote:
> Please help and much thanks in advance for any and all suggestions ...
>
> I would like to create a form using Word 2002 SP3 to do the
> following:
>
>> Allow for use offline by printing and filling in data by hand with a
>> pen on lines (such as dates, signatures, etc.) Allow for using a PC
>> to complete the form electronically by filling in the same lines as
>> blank fields.
>
> Sounds simple to me, but I am having some significant challenges. I
> have created the form and used tables to do so.
>
> In the individual fields I have used checkboxes and text boxes. I
> have learned how to control the text boxes to some extent, including
> their properties.
>
> My challenge lies in the fact that in order to put a place for data on
> the printed form I have used an underscore line. The "text box form"
> is placed where the data needs to go and then underscored to a certain
> length to permit the user to print out the form and fill it in
> manually.
>
> This prints out exactly as I had hoped. However, if instead of
> printing it, I use the PC to enter the data then underscores are
> bumped out and this ruins the form. What it comes down to is that I
> need a way to size the text box so that the default size is changed to
> fit the size of the field. I cannot find any method to change the
> size of the text box. I can limit the amount of text, but that is not
> what I need to do, as that still does not prevent the underscores from
> being undesirably extended. I have protected the template by locking
> it to no avail.
>
> As an alternative to underscores I have tried creating the lines using
> AutoShapes, but that proved difficult to control the exact placement
> of a line and the form has dozens of them.
>
> Is there any way to control the size of a Text Box so that it is the
> width of the field needed? It appears to be about 8 or so characters
> wide and I thought I might 'widen' the box and this would be the
> solution. Perhaps not. If this is not the optimal approach all other
> suggestions will be appreciated. Please note that I am not asking how
> to control the number of characters in a box - that I can do. I am
> asking how to control the width of the box so the it can be completed
> without extending the underscore lines. Your suggestions are most
> welcome ...