Forum Discussion
READ ONLY - Change in how it works
Since the start of time, I have used Word documents, for forms, in read-only (yes instead of template) so I can populate the form and then save as to ensure no changes are saved to my 'template'. Very recently I cannot type into the document at all as read--only. This is ridiculous to me, the developer mode has always done this very well. Can I revert to the 'older' properties of read -only somehow? Most likely not. An uninvited intrusion into something that has worked well since the dawn of time.
6 Replies
LumpyCBR1137XX Assuming that after you enter data into the form, you were going to save it with a new name, all that you need to do to be able to be able to populate the form is to first use File>SaveAs and save the document with a new name.
If the issue really is that you want to be able to enter data into the form and then print it without saving it, then save the form as a template and use File>New
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Yes, I do populate the form and then save it as a PDF. Previously, as late as last week even, I could populate the form and then save it, now I cannot type into the relevant table as a result of a really pointless update.
I know I can save it as a template, but I have 140 different forms that would need this to happen, and then add to the folder I want them in instead of where MS wants them to go. What I don't want to do is to save as a word document, populate, save as pdf, delete copy. For now I have just taken the read only function off the properties. It's just a pointless update that has created issues. Developer is designed for this very eventuality so why double up on it and make it harder for users? 🙂
LumpyCBR1137XX You do not need to use the default template folder location. By going to File>Options>Advanced>General>File Locations, you can modify the location for the User Templates Folder and for the Workgroup Templates folder. Then, if you add the New Document or Template command (from the All Commands category) to the Quick Access Toolbar, the dialog that appears will contain the contents of the User and Workgroup Templates folders and if you have sub-folders in either of those folders, the contents of the subfolders will appear under Tabs on the New dialog.
There is no need to modify the forms that you now have as all that you need to do is move them into either the User or the Workgroup Template folders and then use the New Document or Template command to display the above dialog and select the form that you want to use. That will result in a new document (Document#) being created from your form that will not have the Read Only attribute applied to it so that you can edit it and then save it as a PDF without interferring with the original file.
