With EZ-Forms, you create a master form in design mode and you create a filled-out form in fillout mode.
To start filling out a master form that is already open, use the Edit Fillout command.
To start filling out a master form that is not yet open, use the File Fillout command.
When designing a form, you can select multiple objects by holding down the shift key while clicking on the objects.
When filling out a form, the Ctrl+Home and the Ctrl+End keys will move the cursor to the first and last fields, respectively.
When you've completed filling out a form and you need to fill out another one of the same forms, use the Edit Fillout Next command to prepare the form for the next fillout.
To speed EZ-Forms startup, press the Ctrl key when the initial 'splash' screen displays.
In design, click over any object with the right mouse button to access the object properties menu.
In fillout, click over any field with the right mouse button to access the field fillout menu.
You should back up all of your master and filled-out form files on a regular basis.
In design, you can select a group of objects by holding down the shift key while clicking on the objects.
To make form fillout easier and more accurate, use the Form Field Setup options during design.
Snap-To-Grid means that while you are moving or sizing an object (e.g.. creating a line) the end points will "snap-to" the nearest grid point intersections around the object.
When creating a grid table with fields, add fields from left to right in the first row and adjust each field's attributes. Select the left most field, then hold the Shift key while selecting (left to right) the remaining fields. Copy (Ctrl+C), Paste (Ctrl+V) and reposition for each row below the first one. Doing this maintains fillout order.
Using the View menu to adjust to a larger form view size makes object selection easier.
For convenience, you may want to organize files into different subdirectories.
It may be helpful at times to have several forms open at once for comparison, work in progress, or to copy / move text, fields, or objects from one form to another.
Too many open forms may clutter up your screen desktop. Iconizing (minimizing to icon view) some of the forms using the Minimize command contained in the Control tab menu for the form window can clean things up considerably.
Any time during design mode, the selected object can be "micro-moved" by using cursor keys to move the object in very small increments. When snap-to-grid is turned on, press Shift and the corresponding cursor key to move the selected object from grid point to grid point.
Even if snap-to-grid is turned on, you may still micro-move a selected object with the keyboard arrow keys as long as the object is still selected. This allows for very precise positioning of the object.
Form Design: The goal here is to create a Master Form by using the drawing tools to place objects at appropriate places on the form. Once an object is placed, it can be moved, resized or have its characteristics modified.
Form Fillout: The goal here is to place data into each field in order to fill out the entire form. When done filling out a form, save it to a unique name. When ready to fill out a new form, you can use the Edit Fillout Next, Edit Clear All or File Fillout commands to do so.
An object is created by first selecting a drawing tool, then using the mouse to place and size it. At creation time, an object's attributes are defined by settings in the Options Defaults menu.
Once an object exists, its attributes can be modified at any time in design mode by altering settings that are accessible via the Form menu or the object popup menu.
The command line parameter '/M filename' opens the Master form indicated by filename. This form is automatically loaded into design mode.
The command line parameter '/F filename' opens the Master or Fillout form indicated by filename. This form is automatically loaded into fillout mode.
Holding down the Shift key during object selection will prevent deselection of other objects. This allows the selection of more than one object at a time. This group of objects can be moved, cut, copied, or pasted, very much like what can be done with singularly selected objects.
A handle is a small black square on the end point, corner point or edge of a selected object. Click and drag handles to resize objects.
An Inactive form does not have a highlighted title bar. Click on any visible part of the form to make it the active form. Select the Window pulldown menu for a list of open form file windows.
The layout of a form can be altered after creation by using the Form Form Layout command, accessible from the main menu.
To place an object, first select a drawing tool, then position the mouse pointer to where the top leftmost point of the object will be and press the left mouse button. Then continue to hold the left mouse button and drag the mouse pointer to the bottom rightmost point of the object. Finally, release the left mouse button.
The settings assigned in the Options Preferences dialog box are used to set defaults for program operations. These settings determine the way master and fillout forms function as you use them.
Use Refresh to update the screen at any time. This may be necessary when artifacts are caused by the Windows GUI or some video drivers during busy or complex editing sessions.
The File Save All command is used when there are two or more form windows open, one or more of which have been modified. It saves all open form files so you do not have to step through the save procedure for each and every one of them.
The single user, non-network version of this program will not read from or save to a network drive.
Temporary adjustments for the current session may be made to the options settings for repetitive or similar tasks without the need to make those settings permanent.
Our area code changed recently (Nov. 2, '96) from 713 to 281. It has come to our attention that some telephone central offices are not yet programmed to recognize this new style area code. If you have problems getting through, try area code 713 which will be "permissive" through April '97.
A pick list provides the form filler with a pre-defined set of choices for field content. This makes filling out a form quicker, easier, more accurate and more consistent. Feature available in EZ-Forms XL and EZ-Forms ODBC.
Field help provides the form filler with explanatory text written by the form designer. Typically, only those fields that require extra guidance or explanation will need field help. Feature available in EZ-Forms XL and EZ-Forms ODBC.
Validation assures that the form filler places appropriate data in the field. When an invalid entry is made, a configurable error message displays. Feature available in EZ-Forms XL and EZ-Forms ODBC.
A calculation speeds fillout by automating mathematical computations. Feature available in EZ-Forms XL and EZ-Forms ODBC.
By default, fillout proceeds in left to right, top to bottom order. To change this order, reorder the field names in the Form Field Order dialog. Feature available in EZ-Forms XL and EZ-Forms ODBC.
A field calculation is created by the form designer in order to make form fillout easier, quicker and more accurate. Otherwise calculations would have to be carried out manually. Feature available in EZ-Forms XL and EZ-Forms ODBC.
An icon representing a prerecorded sound file can be placed on a form. Sound files stored in the .WAV format can be played during data entry for instructions, or to further illustrate a topic. Feature available in EZ-Forms XL and EZ-Forms ODBC.
Insert Graphic allows the image to be embedded into the form or linked to the form. Feature available in EZ-Forms XL and EZ-Forms ODBC.
OLE is an acronym for Object Linking and Embedding. In short, OLE allows an object created by an OLE server (such as Paint, Excel, etc.) to be embedded into an OLE client application. Feature available in EZ-Forms XL and EZ-Forms ODBC.
OLE objects can be inserted into a master form by using the Edit Insert New Object command. Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) means that an object (data or file) can be embedded or linked to another application that doesn't directly support the object format. Feature available in EZ-Forms XL and EZ-Forms ODBC.
Each object can be set to printable or non-printable at any time with the Form Printable command. Feature available in EZ-Forms XL and EZ-Forms ODBC.
File Scanner Acquire will initiate the scanning control module of your TWAIN-compatible scanner driver software. Feature available in EZ-Forms XL and EZ-Forms ODBC.
Send Mail (File menu): Send a message via the resident email system, and sends the current form as an attachment. This is the same as if you were to send a message using your email program directly. Feature available in EZ-Forms XL and EZ-Forms ODBC.
Call EZX/SSW at 1.281.280.9900 (FAX: 1.281.280.0099) for information concerning new features, benefits, etc. Be sure the registration card has been properly filled out and mailed in to us.
