[Solved] Using Fields in Drawing Objects

Writing a book, Automating Document Production - Discuss your special needs here
Post Reply
Shane Steinmetz
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 4:37 am

[Solved] Using Fields in Drawing Objects

Post by Shane Steinmetz »

Hello.

I am creating letters that will be mailed out to many people. As you might imagine, I am using fields in these documents that draw information from a database.

I can successfully insert fields when editing paragraphs of text. However, when I try to go to insert fields while editing a text box drawing object, the "fields" section is ghosted! (I am accessing fields by going to "insert" on the menu bar and clicking "other.") I can't seem to insert fields from my database within my text boxes. I want to do this so I can easily insert the information I want on very specific areas of the page.

I'm using OpenOffice 2.3.0 for Windows.
Last edited by Shane Steinmetz on Thu Dec 27, 2007 5:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
OOo 3.0.X on Ubuntu 8.x
User avatar
acknak
Moderator
Posts: 22756
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:25 am
Location: USA:NJ:E3

Re: Using Fields in Drawing Objects

Post by acknak »

OOo does not support fields in any graphics object, including text boxes.

Instead, use a text frame (Insert > Frame), which is a full-featured text object, including fields, and can be placed anywhere on the page.
AOO4/LO5 • Linux • Fedora 23
Shane Steinmetz
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 4:37 am

Re: Using Fields in Drawing Objects

Post by Shane Steinmetz »

Ah-ha! I had previously looked at text frames as an option, but dismissed using it right away because when clicking the frame, nothing seemed to happen. (The object was selected, but I could not enter text using the keyboard.) I tried it again and noticed that if I deselected the object first and then clicked inside the box, I could start typing text. I should have ran that idea by one more time before giving up on it!

This is just what I needed. Thank you so much for your help!! :)
OOo 3.0.X on Ubuntu 8.x
User avatar
foxcole
Volunteer
Posts: 1507
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:31 am
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Re: Using Fields in Drawing Objects

Post by foxcole »

Shane Steinmetz wrote: (The object was selected, but I could not enter text using the keyboard.) I tried it again and noticed that if I deselected the object first and then clicked inside the box, I could start typing text.
For future reference, click on the frame to select it (so the green handles appear) and just press Enter to activate edit mode.
Cheers!
---Fox

OOo 3.2.0 Portable, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
User avatar
acknak
Moderator
Posts: 22756
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:25 am
Location: USA:NJ:E3

Re: [Solved] Using Fields in Drawing Objects

Post by acknak »

The "edit text" key (F2) is a handy one to remember: it will put you into text-editing mode for almost any selected object across all the OOo applications.

I find it fascinating that a graphics text box will switch from the "selected" state, to the "text-editing" state, just by typing, whereas the text frame will not. Yet a text frame will directly enter text editing mode by clicking in the text area, whereas the text box does not.
AOO4/LO5 • Linux • Fedora 23
Post Reply