At 19:57 06/09/2010 +0100, Harold Fuchs wrote:
OOo 3.2.1 Win XP Pro and Vista Home Premium.
I'm trying to create a Writer template that has a series of "boxes"
(outlined rectangular areas). Each box should have a *fixed* piece
of text and space for editable text. The idea is that when a user
creates a new document from the template, the fixed text is *not*
editable but s/he can enter new text to the right of and/or below
the fixed text. So, for example, a box might contain the *fixed*
text "First Name: " and the user is expected to enter his/her first
name in the box. In other words I'm trying to design a form to be
filled in on the screen. I've tried text boxes with captions and
I've tried frames with captions. In both cases, when I create a new
document from the template, the captions are editable which is the
exact opposite of what I want (and what I'd have expected). I also
tried an elementary form with a label field but the text of the
label gets overwritten with text I enter and the cursor isn't
pre-positioned in the right place (after the ": " of "First Name: "
for example).
A simple technique works for me (on 3.1.1 for Windows XP Home):
o Create and position a frame and enter the fixed text.
o Select the frame - so that you see the eight green handles.
o Go to Format | Frame/Object... | Options | Protect (or right-click
| Frame... | Options | Protect).
o Tick at least Contents and probably Position and Size.
If I save a document with a protected frame as a template, the
protections are carried through into a document created from the
template - as you need. It is possible, of course, to put a frame
within a frame, and you could presumably achieve what you need by
doing this. The outer frame would have a border and be the visible
box, and the inner frame would have no border and be an invisible
container for your fixed text. Both frames would have their position
and size protected, but only the inner frame would have its contents
protected. Repeat for each required box.
It is possible - indeed, easy - for users to remove these protections
in new documents if they wish (and know how), so this protection
serves only to avoid accidental changes. But you knew that.
I trust this helps.
Brian Barker
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