MacFormat 1994 November/macformat-018.iso/Demos/M.Y.O.B. Accounting Demo/M.Y.O.B. Demo/M.Y.O.B. Demo.rsrc/STR#_10065.txt

Text File | 1994-08-31 | 6.8 KB | 273 lines

Customizing Forms

The Forms Layout window allows you to customize your forms printing.



Àá
Data FieldÀá


This field is "filled in" by M.Y.O.B.  The name of the data field is shown in

brackets.  The size of a data field is shown by a dotted box.  The name is supplied

by M.Y.O.B.



All the available data fields are shown on the form.  You may not delete or change

the name of a data field.  If you do not want the field printed, you must make it

"Inactive."  To make a data field inactive, double-click it.  The field information dialog

is displayed.   Click the radio button labeled Inactive.  The name of the inactive data

field is greyed.



Àá
Text FieldÀá


This field is supplied by the user.  You may change a text field (double-click it and

enter the new text), or delete a text field (select it and press the Delete key.)



To add a new text field, click on the text tool (the letter A in the palette at the lower

left).  Then click on the form.  A text field is created with the words "Text Field" as

the default text.  Double-click on the text field to change the text.



At any time, you may change the text, and/or its font, size or style.  To delete a text

field, select it and press the Delete key.



Àá
Picture FieldÀá


This is a graphic supplied by the user.  Use it, for example, to put your company's logo

on your forms.



Before adding a new picture field, be sure to "copy" the desired picture into your

computer's memory and "paste" it into your Scrapboard.



To add a picture field, click on the picture tool (the small picture frame in the box at the

lower left).  Then click on the form.  A picture field is created with a picture frame as the

default graphic.  Next, "copy" (from your Scrapboard) the desired picture.  Double-click

on the picture field.  Press Command-V to paste the new picture.



To change a picture field, double-click it and "paste" the new picture. To delete a picture

field, select it and press the Delete key.



Àá
Line FieldÀá


You may draw horizontal or vertical lines on your forms.



To add a new line, click the line tool.  Move the mouse pointer to where you want

the line to begin.  Then click and drag the mouse (hold the mouse button down while

moving the mouse) to where you want the line to end.  Release the mouse button.



You may change the thickness of a line.  Simply double-click the line and choose the

desired line size in the field information dialog.



Àá
Rectangle FieldÀá


You may draw rectangles on your forms.



To add a new rectangle, click the rectangle tool.  Move the mouse pointer to where

you want the upper left-hand corner of the rectangle.  Then click and drag the mouse

(hold the mouse button down while moving the mouse) to the lower right-hand corner

of the rectangle.  Release the mouse button.



You may change the thickness of a rectangle.  Simply double-click the rectangle and

choose the desired frame size in the field information dialog.



Àá
Selecting a FieldÀá


Click the arrow tool and then click the desired field.  When the field is selected, it is

outlined in a black box with a small black rectangle (called a "handle") at the lower

right-hand corner.



Àá
Note:Àá
..If a field overlaps another field, when you click, the field "in front" is selected.

If you want to select the field behind it, choose Send to Back from the Form menu.

Then click again.



Àá
Changing the Size of a FieldÀá


When a field is selected, it is outlined with a black rectangle.  A handle (a small black

box) is at the lower right-hand corner of the rectangle (for lines, there's a handle at

either end of the line).  Click and drag the handle to change the size of the field.



Another, more exact, way to change the size of a field is to double-click it and change

its coordinates in the field information dialog.



Àá
Changing the Location of a FieldÀá


Click in the middle of the field and hold the mouse button down.  The pointer changes to

a hand.  Drag the mouse while keeping the mouse button depressed.  An outline of the

field travels with the hand.  Release the mouse button when the field is at the desired

location.



Another, more exact, way to change the location of a field is to double-click it and

change its coordinates in the field information dialog.



Àá
The Form MenuÀá


The Form menu appears in the menu bar whenever you are customizing a form.



Àá
Forms InfoÀá


The Form Information Dialog tells M.Y.O.B.:



*    How many copies  of the form can fit on a single page

*    The appropriate Page Setup for this form

*    The top and left margins

*    The size of the form.



If you have continuous-feed forms, pay careful attention to the relationship between

the number of forms per page, the requested page setup and the size of the form.

Consider the following formula:



    (# forms per page  X  length of the form) =  Page Setup



See How to Customize Forms in Chapter 14 of your User's Guide for some

examples of how to use # of forms per page.



Àá
Note:Àá
..The Requested Page Setup selection only tells M.Y.O.B. what to expect when

printing this form.  It does not change your Page Setup in the File menu.



The top margin and left margin tell M.Y.O.B. to move the entire printed area down or

right (if you enter negative numbers, M.Y.O.B. moves the printing up and/or left).  For

most forms, the top and left margins are usually set to zero.  Mailing labels are the

exception.  Since the labels usually begin at the very top edge of the page and end at

the very bottom edge, most printers are incapable of printing the first or last row of

labels.  M.Y.O.B. uses the margins to move the printing down to the second row of labels.



Àá
Hide (Show) Inactive FieldsÀá


Data fields cannot be deleted.  If you do not want a data field printed, you must make it

inactive.  To make a data field inactive, double-click it and select Inactive in the field

information dialog.  The name of the inactive data field is greyed.  Since inactive

fields can make your form layout visually confusing, you can choose Hide Inactive

Fields from the Form Menu.  The inactive data fields are removed from the Customize

window.  To see the inactive fields choose Show Inactive Fields from the From menu.



Àá
Send to Back/Bring to FrontÀá


If a field overlaps another field, when you click, the field "in front" is selected.  If

you want to select the field behind it, choose Send to Back from the Forms menu.

Then click again.  Conversely, a field in back can be brought forward by selecting it

and choosing Bring to Front.



Àá
PreviewÀá


Before printing a customized form, it is a good idea to preview it.  To preview a form,

click the Preview button.  The Preview window shows the form exactly as it will appear

when printed.  Remember, anything that falls outside the dotted rectangle will not be

printed.