How do I print on a preprinted form in Access

C

Carlos

I have a form that I scanned and would like to set up fields on so that when
printed, the scanned document prints with the information I typed, printed in
the correct fields of the form. Therefor my question is really in two parts.

1. I would like to be able to place fields on the form so that I can type it
as I go and fill out the form.

2. Then I would like to print the form in it's entirety(with the
information) on plain paper.

thank you.
 
M

Marvin P. Winterbottom

first, set up a table with the fields you want, then make a new form with the
form wizard, the tricky part will be getting it to print on the pre-printed
form. You will have to make a report in Design View, and place the fields on
the report so they line up, it may take some trial and error.
 
A

Albert D.Kallal

Just build a report. Lay out the fields where you need to.

the code to send the current one record you are viewing is

me.refresh
docmd.openreprot "yourreprot",acViewPreview,,"id = " & me!id

note that of course you will not get everything lined up. So, lay out the
report as best you can, and guess as best as you can to where the fields
should be placed on the report.

You then get a nice pile a blank paper. You print the one record to the
blank paper. Grab the form (that you will eventually place in the printer),
and place them on top of each other, and hold it up to the light (I can't
tell you how many times I done that over the years!). You can now judge how
close, or far off you fields are in terms of position on the page. Start
with the first field and box on the form. If the text box is too far to the
left, then go back to report design, and move the text box to the right. You
then print the report again, and then hold up the form + what you just
printed to the light. You then keep moving the fields by trial and error
until they all align up. (you likely will use 15 to 55 pages or MORE to get
this right). At this point, you now start using the more expensive and
valuable forms, and feed those into the printer. At this point you will do
your final tweaks as to moving around the fields to get them "JUST" right on
the form. Note that the form should allow some leeway, as printers do not
print EXACLTY in the same spot each time. They are close..but you need some
room in those boxes on the forms. If the forms are expensive, or you don't
have many, then often I will photo copy a bunch of those forms, and use that
for the above trial and error process. However, do check the aliment of the
photo copies, as often they will not be lined up with the original forms
when you copy, and therefore you layout will not be 100% right since you use
photocopies to setup the aligment...and not the orignals.

Another approach is not print to pre-printed forms, but simply build the
report to look EXACTLY like the form that you need to print. That means you
include all the lines and boxes that will actually print. Only you can
decide which approach is better for you. (or, perhaps you MUST fill out the
exiting forms..so use the method I outlined above).

I done both of the above many times over the years, and there is really no
other approach or soltion to this problem...
 
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