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Subject:Forms, Templates and HTML in Word From:Jill Shindelman <jill_shindelman -at- yahoo -dot- com> To:TECHWR-L -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com Date:Wed, 2 Feb 2000 07:03:22 -0800 (PST)
I?m trying to use Word 97 to create a form, which when
completed by our software developers, will be
converted to HTML and put on our Web site to serve as
project documentation. But the mechanics of this
operation are not working correctly, and I?m not sure
if it?s because I?m not following the right steps or
if this simply can?t be done. Here are the details:
I used Word to create a form with text fields, check
boxes, and drop-down lists. Then I saved the form as
a document template and tried to test it by using it
to create a new document in which I filled in the
fields, checked the boxes, and selected items from the
drop-down lists. But when I tried to save the
completed document as HTML, Word issued a message
warning that some of the data might be lost as a
result of the save, and recommended saving the file as
a document first.
The problem is that no matter which approach I take
(go straight to HTML or save the document as *.doc and
then try to save it as HTML), the resulting file
contains all the boilerplate information from the base
form, but none of the text or information from the
check boxes or drop-down lists. Those areas are
simply blank.
I can achieve partial success if I "unprotect" the
document when I fill in the form. Doing this allows
the free-form text to show up in the HTML file, but it
also disables the check box and drop-down functions.
I am the lone tech writer on this project, so I have
no local resource to help me with this problem. And
Microsoft?s "Knowledge Base" on their Web site
contains no items dealing with this area. If anyone
can shed any light on what?s happening here, or
suggest another approach for me to try, I would
greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Jill Shindelman
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