I have some forms to fill in and I am considering doing an Excel
spreadsheet and fitting the stuff in by trial and error.

Or is there a better way?

---

Request for Question Clarification by read2live-ga on 08 Sep 2003 06:49 PDT

Hi, there!

Can you tell us, what kind of forms - and what kind of stuff? I think
more information wold be very helpful here.

Best, r2l

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 08 Sep 2003 08:42 PDT

Hi, r2l

In this case, these are Company forms 288C, notifying a change of
address for a director of a company incorporated in England & Wales.

The director concerned is a director of several companies and a lot of
the info will the same.

You can download a specimen free from
http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/

Regards

Bryan

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 09 Sep 2003 09:42 PDT

Hey, r2l

I thought that you were going to produce a sensational idea.

Have I misread you?

Regards

Bryan

Bryan,

Thanks for chivvying me to post this; if it still is not quite right,
we can work on it!

All best wishes, r2l

===============================================

I had a thought, a flash of memory.  I remember a UK magazine cover
cd-rom from a year or two ago, which carried a free version of
form-filling software. You scanned the blank form into your computer,
added your responses, and printed out the form to post, or saved your
work so that you could email it as an attachment.
 
Which sent me to Google, search terms : form-filler software scan 
 
Lots of hits.  I couldn't see anything which rang bells, but there
were certainly some good possibilities for you.
 
In particular, AnyForm form software 4.0 may be just what you want. 
"AnyForm form software enables you to fill out, calculate and print
out any given paper form exactly, quickly and easily on your PC. The
filling out of these forms can be done by hand or by importing data
from an ODBC supported Database, like MS Excel, MS Access, Sybase,
Oracle, Informix etc.)"
 
You will find more information at
<http://freedownloadswindows.com/windows/Databases/659286/AnyForm-form-software.html>
 
It's shareware with a free 30 day trial. 
 
I'm not commending this (or any other product) and have not checked it
out myself.  If this leads you to what you want then I'll be happy to
post it as an answer, and if it doesn't, well, I'll go on mulling it
over.
 
Best, r2l

---

Request for Answer Clarification by probonopublico-ga on 11 Sep 2003 08:39 PDT

You've certainly got 5 Stars already ... but I want to check out the
stuff before actually marking your paper.

Many thanks

Bryan

---

Clarification of Answer by read2live-ga on 11 Sep 2003 23:32 PDT

Bryan,

Thanks again.  Nice to get a good rating (and I am blushing at your
comments).

A couple of other pieces of software  found look attractive.  (Look
attractive does not necessarily mean it will suit your needs).

I made a note of "Preprinted FORM Filler by HexaTech", mainly because
it claims to "Import data from or export to Excel".  Many of the other
products claim to import from Excel; this one could be useful as it
exports to Excel.  <http://www.hexatech.com/form_filler.htm>

FORMIK is another of those scan-it-in and print-it-out packages - and
the image used in the advertisement looks impressive indeed.  I
suspect the main problems with the scanning solution are that either
you have to get perfect alignment of the form in your scanner and then
in your printer, and the responses do not print in the right places if
you mis-align the form - or you print out the form and responses onto
blank paper, in which case there's a lot dependent on your scanner
resolution and the quality of your printer.
<http://www.bykeyword.com/pages/detail5/download-5554.html>

Whatever, I hate forms.

All best wishes, r2l

Hi, r2l

Brilliant, as usual.

Many thanks for your suggestion.

I've looked at the software and I am less than crazy about it.

I'll stick with Excel.

Kindest regards

Bryan

Hi, Bryan,

Sorry, I don't have anything sensational to offer you.  I can offer an
apology for not getting back to you sooner: an intermittent internet
connection has not been helpful, but that's another story.  (And I
think this is a comment, rather than a further request for
clarification.)

Now that I have gotten through to Companies House and seen form 288c,
about the best I can suggest is a simple copy and paste solution, and
for that you can use Excel - or other modules of Office or similar. 
That keeps the information in memory, rather than disappearing once
you print out the form.

It's interesting that they all this online form completion, because
once completed you have to print out the form and submit it by post.

Sorry I got you excited, best to leave this to someone else.

Hope you get something more helpful than this, r2l

Hi, r2l

Many thanks for your Comment.

If nobody comes up with anything exciting soon, I am going to close
the question and get down to the Excel solution.

Regards

Bryan

'So where is Bowler?', I ask myself.

Still in bed I guess.

Bryan, hello again,

I had a thought, a flash of memory.  I remember a UK magazine cover
cd-rom from a year or two ago, which carried a free version of
form-filling software. You scanned the blank form into your computer,
added your responses, and printed out the form to post, or saved your
work so that you could email it as an attachment.

Which sent me to Google, search terms : form-filler software scan

Lots of hits.  I couldn't see anything which rang bells, but there
were certainly some good possibilities for you.

In particular, AnyForm form software 4.0 may be just what you want. 
"AnyForm form software enables you to fill out, calculate and print
out any given paper form exactly, quickly and easily on your PC. The
filling out of these forms can be done by hand or by importing data
from an ODBC supported Database, like MS Excel, MS Access, Sybase,
Oracle, Informix etc.)"

You will find more information at
<http://freedownloadswindows.com/windows/Databases/659286/AnyForm-form-software.html>

It's shareware with a free 30 day trial.

I'm not commending this (or any other product) and have not checked it
out myself.  If this leads you to what you want then I'll be happy to
post it as an answer, and if it doesn't, well, I'll go on mulling it
over.

Best, r2l

Hi, Again, r2l

Many thanks for your efforts.

I'll take a look at the stuff you have described.

In any event, please post your answer NOW before someone else chips in.

Kindest regards

Bryan

I've just wasted an hour trying to use Excel ...

It's totally useless for this purpose.

There's obviously nowt like a good typewriter.

But where to find one?

Try roboform.  These guys provide a free download.  I think on their
recommended links page.  Get the software from: 
http://thingsforhorses.com

The Roboform website:

http://www.roboform.com/