Re: locking textboxes
From: John McGhie [MVP - Word] (john_at_mcghie.name)
Date: 04/23/04
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Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 17:46:15 +1000
Yes, that's correct. You need to rely on the fact that the User wants to do
the right thing, and let the user know that you have this expectation :-)
If you put your graphics in the header or footer, and you use a table to
position their text, the result is very robust, but it's not bullet-proof.
Tell them they can have "simple and robust" for $x or "Complex and
unbreakable" for $y, where y = x * 100, and let them choose.
You can do this with Word userforms. When they open the template, a
userform (like a dialog) pops up and prompts them through the text entry.
Your underlying logic then calls the template, fills in the text fields
already correctly positioned and prints the result.
Because the user never gets to type in the actual document that goes to the
printer, they can't damage it. But that means you have to organise a secure
location on the network that users have read-only access to.
It also means you have to cut a bit of code. It's not serious, maybe a
week's worth of work if you are reasonably good with VBA. But it's extra
dollars.
Of course, if any user is "trying" to break it, they will still find a way.
And if the users are *not* trying to break it, the first option will be
fine.
I find that if we make an excessive attempt to "control" our users, they
redouble their efforts to find a way around us. Eventually, you get to the
point where you are adding more and more code to protect your solution, and
they are putting more and more effort into trying to break it. So much
better to say to users "Hey, we know you are on the same team and you want
to do a good job just like we do. Here's a tool to help. You have to take
care when using it, but if you do, it will enable you to get the result you
want in a fraction of the time. Please let us know any way we can improve
it for you."
Do that, and you will never have any trouble. The weakest solutions will
last in service for years :-)
Cheers
This responds to article <BCAD7BC4.4FB2%design@hdda.co.uk>, from "HDDA"
<design@hdda.co.uk> on 22/4/04 10:40 PM:
> thanks for the help john
>
> if i choose to do it this way will it not be the case that the user could
> still move the overlaying table around and that would result in their text
> entries being printed in the wrong position? is this a risk i run whatever i
> do
>
> thanks
>
> peter
>
>> From: "John McGhie [MVP - Word]" <john@mcghie.name>
>> Newsgroups: microsoft.public.mac.office.word
>> Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2004 08:23:24 +1000
>> Subject: Re: locking textboxes
>>
>> Hi Peter:
>>
>> In a word, "No."
>>
>> Normally we use a table for this purpose. Tables are not sacrosanct either,
>> but they are less damage-prone than text boxes.
>>
>> Another technique, which works very well for the situation you describe, is
>> to place your graphical elements in the Header, then drag them so they print
>> in the correct positions. Study the Help topic on "Watermark" for a
>> description of this.
>>
>> Once you have done this, the graphics are in the layer below the text where
>> the ordinary user will never be able to access them.
>>
>> You then place borderless table over the whole thing and get the user to
>> type in the table. When printed, it appears as though the user has typed in
>> the form, even though the form is in the layer below the text.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>>
>> This responds to article <19c0f02f.0404200424.71be2c23@posting.google.com>,
>> from "Peter B7" <alison@hdda.co.uk> on 20/4/04 10:24 PM:
>>
>>> i am currently working in word 2000
>>>
>>> i have created a letterhead template for my office to use which is
>>> based entirely on using text boxes
>>>
>>> i need to know if there is any way of locking the textboxes so that
>>> the user of the template cannot move the boxes around but can still
>>> edit their content
>>>
>>> thanks for the help
>>
>> --
>>
>> Please respond only to the newsgroup to preserve the thread.
>>
>> John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer,
>> McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
>> Sydney, Australia. GMT + 10 Hrs
>> +61 4 1209 1410, mailto:john@mcghie.name
>>
>>
>
-- Please respond only to the newsgroup to preserve the thread. John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer, McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd Sydney, Australia. GMT + 10 Hrs +61 4 1209 1410, mailto:john@mcghie.name
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