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General discussion

3 column layout problems

Aug 3, 2005 4:38PM PDT

Hi,

I got a assignment at work to help a department with one of their forms.

They use a special form to update the condition of a patient each time the patient has visited them. Unfortunately this is not done in a database etc., instead they have pre-printed paper that has 3 columns: date, signature, text.

Up until today each time the patient comes in they take out his/hers paper and use a typewriter to add new text to the paper. Each time they write on the paper they move a few lines down from the last entry and add date, signature and then text.

They now wanted a way to use word for entering the text into these forms.

My first solution:
I created a Word-page with a 3 column table which matched the layout of the paper exactly. The table-borders were 'invisible' when printed out but visible on the screen. This meant they would on-screen see the paper and that it still printed out ok when printed out to the pre-printed paper. Each column was made up by 1 'tall' cell (I set the height of the cells to the correct height for the paper).

Since they do not want to save anything on the computer the document was a template. Each time they opened it up it was empty. They then checked the paper to see how far down they had to start to type in Word (so that they wouldn't print out on top of a earlier text) and then simply used the "Enter key" to move down each column until they found the spot where they would start typing.

The problem with this was that it mean that they had to press "enter" several times for each column to have them start typing on the same line. They felt it was a bit to much work.

So they wanted a similar solution where they can place the cursor anywhere in each column and start typing right away.

I've tried several other solutions:

Instead of 3 columns with just one tall cell in each column I made the table with 1 cell/line (you could call it a normal table). This method makes it easy to start typing right away on whatever line you want but the problem is that when you type the text in the third column, instead of the text continue to flow to the next line it just increases the height of the current cell and screws up the layout of the table since it now flows over to a new page ...

I've also tried to use text-fields to flow text but it didn't work expecially well.

I'm a webdeveloper and not a Word wizard Happy so I'm a bit lost here. if you had a similar assigment, how would you solve it?

They just want to be able to load up the template of the page, put the cursor at the right place in the first column and start typuign in date, tab to next column and end up on the same line, write date, tab to the next column and then start typing text. Nothing more complex ...

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Bj

Discussion is locked

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I reckon your ideas were right.
Aug 4, 2005 2:28AM PDT

Sometimes, it is not the form or template that is at fault, but the operators who use it.

It is simple enough to load the template up, then using keyboard and mouse to navigate to the next empty cell or row. With fixed cell heights, there should be no problem of misalignment in printing over the existing paper record.

I very often find that people who are not used to using computers are frightened of doing anything and experimenting, and so even simple tasks like moving around a form can become huge obstacles. But once a little training is given to boost their confidence, they can soon find their way and use with confidence.

Is there anyway that a little computer training could be offered to them?

Mark

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3 column table, with fixed cell heights
Aug 4, 2005 4:31AM PDT

If you make up a 3 column table, with fixed cell heights, the user can select any one of the 3 cells and start typing. Entering in more text than one cell's width will naturally wrap to the next line, in the same cell, but the cell will not grow, as long as you set the row height properties to be Exactly x inches. So that way, it does not wrap to the next page.

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Transparant cells
Aug 7, 2005 6:06PM PDT

Thanks for the suggestion.

I tried it and youa re right, it stops the cells from growing and thus makes sure that the table isn't expanded to the second page.

However - is there a way to make the cells transparent? When I start typing in a cell and the text wraps to the next line in the cell it gets hidden behind the cells below so that neither when you type nor when you print out you see the text that has been entered ...

/B

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Sounds like you want the limitations without limitations
Aug 8, 2005 3:16AM PDT

Sounds like you want all the advantages of having sharply defined cell heights without the limitations of having defined cell heights. :-S :-?

If you could see what you type beyond those cell borders, and you could also print what is beyond those cell borders, then what are the borders for?

You can't have your cake, and eat it too.