Text box question

R

Rick M

One of our users created a multipage form with text boxes for the data
entry. Is it possible to have one text box entry automatically insert
the contents of it to another text box? This form has a place for the
name and birthdate of a child, which has to go on each page. They don't
want to do this in a header because the form is locked (due to one pesky
user who feels the need to modify everything) and to enter the data in
the header the document would have to be unlocked (correct me if I'm
wrong here!).
 
S

Suzanne S. Barnhill

Ordinarily, the way to repeat data from a form field is to use a
cross-reference to the bookmark of the form field. If you want the data to
go in the header, however, you can use a StyleRef field. Here's how I
explain it in the article currently in preparation:

Creators of protected forms often want the data entered into one form field
to be repeated in several other place on the form. The usual way to do this
is to use a REF (cross-reference) field to cross-reference the built-in
bookmark of the form field. This works well in the document body, but REF
fields in the header or footer of a protected form do not update, so this
solution cannot be used to insert data in a header or footer.

You can, however, do this easily with a StyleRef field.

1. Again, create a character style. You can give it the same name as the
bookmark of your form field (see Figure 8). Base it on the Default Paragraph
Font with no other attributes. That is, the character style does not affect
the appearance of your form field at all; it just overlays the paragraph
style invisibly.

2. Apply the style to the form field.

3. In the header or footer, insert a StyleRef field to pick up the style
you created (see Figure 9).

The beauty of the StyleRef field is that it updates automatically and
instantly, as soon as data is entered in the form field (see Figure 10).

(Obviously, there are no figures here. <g>)
 
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