[Solved] Building a Form in Writer with Password Protection

[dlevam]

Hi,

I'm sorry if this topic is already out-dated. I've been doing my googling in this forum and found a close enough related topic yet too general. (http://user.services.openoffice.org/en/ ... form#p6016)

Have been using MS Word 2003 to save and protect all my documents. The document allows users to fill in the form. However, users are not allowed to update the labels/captions/any other output field information. In MS Word, all I need to do is to click on 'Start Enforcing Protection' button.

The questions are:
1. Can we unprotect a document saved in Ms Word 2003 using OpenOffice? If it can be done, how?
2. How to protect the whole form in the document and allow only input fields to be filled in by users? So far I found it under Format -> Section -> Write Protection, but it works only for specific section, not the overall document as a whole.
3. Can we save and protect the file in .doc extension?
4. This might be a bit OOT, but can we generate checkbox, listbox or any other input fields beside textbox input fields using Forms Design instead of Form Controls?

Any clues or existing links to related topic will be highly appreciated.

[Hagar Delest]

1. Can we unprotect a document saved in Ms Word 2003 using OpenOffice? If it can be done, how?

Yes. Edit the section properties and uncheck the protection option.

2. How to protect the whole form in the document and allow only input fields to be filled in by users? So far I found it under Format -> Section -> Write Protection, but it works only for specific section, not the overall document as a whole.

Put all the content in sections.

3. Can we save and protect the file in .doc extension?

With sections, yes, not the file in itself (several threads about that here).

4. This might be a bit OOT, but can we generate checkbox, listbox or any other input fields beside textbox input fields using Forms Design instead of Form Controls?

I don't see what you mean. There is no icon for such controls in the Forms Design toolbar.

Thanks to add '[Solved]' at beginning of your first post title (edit button) if your issue has been fixed.

[dlevam]

Yes. Edit the section properties and uncheck the protection option.

While I'm in a Sections protected document, the Sections option is unavailable. Is there any other way to enable it?

Put all the content in sections.

I found the solution works well under non-table structured form. However, I'm using extensive tables with rows and columns, and when I highlight them all, the Sections option is again unavailable.

I don't see what you mean. There is no icon for such controls in the Forms Design toolbar.

Sorry, what I meant was about generating textbox input fields thru Insert -> Fields -> Other -> Function -> Input Field. Is there any other input fields (e.g. checkbox, radio button, etc) that we can generate thru this Function or any other way if not?

[Hagar Delest]

If you open the Navigator (F5), can't you access the sections properties by right-click on the entries in the Section tree?

[dlevam]

Yes, thank you so much. I guess it's time to migrate to Open Office.

[eNG1Ne]

2. How to protect the whole form in the document and allow only input fields to be filled in by users? So far I found it under Format -> Section -> Write Protection, but it works only for specific section, not the overall document as a whole.

Put all the content in sections.

Just been checking the forum for help with a questionnaire – 72 question fields. Having to add 72 sections instead of setting one property "this document is a form, therefore only form controls are editable" seems rather cumbersome! Is there anything new in 3.2.1 I haven't noticed?

[Hagar Delest]

Why put 72 sections??? Just put all the fields in a single section!

[r4zoli]

Sorry, what I meant was about generating textbox input fields thru Insert -> Fields -> Other -> Function -> Input Field. Is there any other input fields (e.g. checkbox, radio button, etc) that we can generate thru this Function or any other way if not?

No such function, only form controls.