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Old 05-05-2008, 11:06 PM   #1
105659
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Registered: Nov 2005
Location: BC, Canada
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openoffice 2.4 text field cannot be selected


I was sent a MS .doc file of a form I had to fill, which I opened with OO2.4.0 on Mandriva Linux release 2007.0 (Official) for i586.

The form has a number of grayed-out, fillable text fields, but the rest of the document is protected. One graphic is located overlapping one text field. This image is definitely pushed to the back (I am told by its creator) and protected. When I move my mouse pointer over any other text field, the mouse pointer changes to a hand&finger and allows me to enter text. However, over the text field with the overlapping protected image in the background this fails. Clicking on the text field selects the image instead; it is therefore impossible to select and fill the text field. What am I doing wrong? Is there a fix?

Cheers.
 
Old 05-06-2008, 12:40 AM   #2
Simon Bridge
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Location: Waiheke NZ
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Quote:
I was sent a MS .doc file of a form I had to fill
Inform the sender that they have chosen to send you an attachment in a format which you cannot reliably display without spending a great deal of money - quote them the prices of Vista and Office 2007. Request that the form be resent in an internationally recognized format, as you can display any of those.

Point out that you can reverse engineer the form - which is of dubious legality, with the tools you have installed. Also mention that other versions of MS Word will have problems reading the document as it contains interactive elements (text boxes for input) which are implemented inconsistently between different releases.

Most people are amenable to the request.

Quote:
Clicking on the text field selects the image instead
Let it select the image, then send the image to the back or attempt to delete it or drag the image away. Then try accessing the text field.

You can probably select any "protected" part of the document and un-protect it anyway.
You can probably ctrl+rt-arrow through to the text box too.

If worst comes to worst, you can access the doc file as text and add the required bit between the text-box markers. (Compare with other input text).

You can convert the file to ODF - and fill that out.
You can print the file, fill it out long-hand, then scan it back.

Last edited by Simon Bridge; 05-06-2008 at 12:42 AM.
 
Old 06-06-2008, 11:51 AM   #3
archtoad6
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Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Houston, TX (usa)
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I'm curious -- what did you do?
 
Old 06-21-2008, 04:29 PM   #4
105659
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Registered: Nov 2005
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 26

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
After explaining to the document creator that it would be better to use open software than MS word (because OSS is better, MS is a loathsome company, a convicted criminal organization, immoral to the core and makes & sells crap), I was able to obtain an unprotected version and modified it so I could get at the text field w/OO.
Cheers!
 
Old 06-23-2008, 11:29 AM   #5
archtoad6
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Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Houston, TX (usa)
Distribution: MEPIS, Debian, Knoppix,
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Thanks for the reply, mega-cool outcome. I can hardly believe you got away w/:
Quote:
Originally Posted by 105659 View Post
explaining . . .OSS is better, MS is a loathsome company, a convicted criminal organization, immoral to the core and makes & sells crap
& still got what you asked for. I have to watch my tongue much more carefully.

You know, "Some of my best friends are X."
Where X is "lawyers", Politically Incorrect ethnic group, "Winders" users|usees|abusees, etc.
 
  


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