Which software please

[SamJK]

I use a form comprising of fields for entering name, date of birth etc. The rest of the form is simply lined - all information is currently handwritten.

 

I'd like to be able to scan and input the information by keyboard and print.

 

I've tried using Paint, but selecting boxes accurately on every line is laborious and the whole thing looked a bit messy. I'd like to be able to position the cursor and type.

 

I don't have Microsoft Office Document Imaging, but I'm not even sure that's the sort of software I need.

 

Can anyone advise me please what software will do the job I want to do?

 

Many thanks

 

SamJK

[PseFrank]

I use a form comprising of fields for entering name, date of birth etc. The rest of the form is simply lined - all information is currently handwritten.

 

I'd like to be able to scan and input the information by keyboard and print.

 

I've tried using Paint, but selecting boxes accurately on every line is laborious and the whole thing looked a bit messy. I'd like to be able to position the cursor and type.

 

I don't have Microsoft Office Document Imaging, but I'm not even sure that's the sort of software I need.

 

Can anyone advise me please what software will do the job I want to do?

 

Many thanks

 

SamJK

 

 

Hi Sam...

If you have MS Word on your computer then you can do this by scanning the blank document and saving it as a .jpg File. (Original size)

 

After you have the doc saved as a jpeg open up your word program and insert the jpeg as a watermark. You must check "Picture Watermark" and uncheck the "Washed out" option.

 

Note: Before inserting your picture watermark change the documents margins to the minimum. On word 2007 the minimum is just 3mm.

 

Now just save the document as a .doc File

 

Hope this helps you out. If you need any help with this I would be happy to make you a template. Just personal message me if this is the case.

 

Frank.:-)

[SamJK]

Frank, thanks for the reply.

 

Unfortunately my MS Word is 97 and I haven't been able to find any options that will insert a watermark as you have described.

 

I have been able to follow your instructions on a PC with MS Word 2010, but as expected when opened with my Word 97 the formatting is lost.

 

I'm wondering if the most recent Open Office would suffice - would you know anything about that?

 

Unless of course you could suggest anything else?

 

Many thanks for your help

 

SamJK

[RandyL]

I do know that Open Office supports watermarks (backgrounds).

 

Another thing you could try is the Saveas function in both OO and Microsoft Office and choose to save as a 97 doc.

 

That's about all I know. :)

[SamJK]

Thanks RandyL

 

I tried saving to a 97 doc, but then wasn't able to enter text.

 

I've followed Microsoft instructions for using a watermark in 97, but this is not allowing me to enter text exactly where I want it to be without a lot of fiddling. Then I got a blank page when printing!

 

I'll persevere with this for now, but also take a look at Open Office.

 

Thanks for your comments.

 

Regards

 

SamJK

[Plastic Nev]

I recently installed Open Office and was pleasantly surprised by what you can do with it. Though I haven't a need to do what you need so haven't looked into it, but I would guess that you may be able to do all of it in Open Office, rather than messing about with Microsoft word.

One thing I did find and is a handicap to me, Open Office will not open or see Microsoft Works Word 8 files, which I had on my old computer. I have to convert all Word files to .doc files first to read them, plus as you found you cannot do much with them afterwards.