Hello
We would like our templates to prompt the user with text, so that they know what the fill field is for, e.g.

Dear [Name/Sirs]

and we have got this set up currently as form fields so that the [Name/Sirs] is grey.

However, when the user clicks on the field, they need to delete the prompt text as well as enter their own. It is possible to accidentally leave some of the prompt characters in.

What we would like to achieve is:
- prompt is visible until user clicks on field, then prompt disappears and user simply enters the new text.

Is this poss?

Hope you can help
Liz

Hi Liz

One approach would be to automate the entry fields in a form by adding a specially written Macro so that when a user clicks in a box any default text is removed. The macro would need to be smart enough not to delete text previously entered by the user in the cell if the user happened to click back in the field.

This kind of Macro would need to be specially written.

An alternative method, not using form fields would be to add a macro buttonfield (for this you don't actually need to write a macro)

In your word document move your insertion point where your prompt text will begin. From the insert button go to insert > field and choose macro button. In the display text box type in the prompt you would like your user to see (e.g. Name/Sirs) and click OK.

The text you typed will appear highlighted in grey. Your user can click anywhere on the text and the whole block is selected. This means it's easy for users to type straight over the top without accidentally leaving some prompt text behind.

To be thorough you could also right click on the field text and choose Toggle Field Codes. You will probably find the following:

{MACROBUTTON AcceptAllChangesInDoc Name/Sirs}

rename AcceptAllChangesInDoc to something more neutral because it doesn't actually play a part in this solution (but some text is required) You might want to rename it as prompt

I hope this helps - do let us know if you have any further questions.

Kind regards,

Andrew

Hi Andrew

I am currently working on the template doing exactly this and when I protect the document, you cannot click onto the field let alone type text.

Please advise.

Many thanks