WD: Form Field Duplicated When Form Is Protected After Revisions

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

A duplicate form field appears when you edit a form field if the Mark Revisions While Editing option is activated (Track Changes in Word 97). If the document is protected for Forms, two fields may appear in your protected form. This behavior occurs when you have not accepted or rejected the revisions prior to protecting the form.

If you are marking your revisions for deleted text using hidden formatting instead of strikethrough formatting, when you protect the form, the insertion point disappears when you press the TAB key and move to the duplicate field. It reappears when you start typing, but you cannot enter text into this form field.

CAUSE

When you select Mark Revisions While Editing and revision marks are turned on (Track Changes and Highlight Changes are turned on in Word 97), any text or fields in your document that are modified are displayed as revised. For example, when you edit (or open) the form field options, your original field is deleted and a new field is created. This behavior is identical to marking revised text or other fields in Word documents.

WORKAROUND

Prior to protecting your form, accept or reject your revisions. To locate this option, choose Revisions from the Tools menu.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Word for Windows listed above. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.