Adding and editing graphic elements

You can also add graphic elements to a form: rectangles to visually group elements, lines to separate elements, icons, logos, photos, location maps, and other image elements.

To add an image to a form

Click the Image button in the Customize window and then click on the form where you want to place the graphic. A new graphic element appears.

Double-click the image element. The Field Properties window appears. The Open window appears.

Click Load Picture. The Open window appears.

Select the image file and click Open. The Field Properties window displays the graphic in the Preview Picture area.

Type the field location and field size for the picture.

Click OK to close the Field Properties window. The picture appears in the Customize window.

If you want, move the image or change the properties of the image—see ‘Editing all elements with common commands’ below.

To paste an image on a form

You can paste almost any graphic that can be placed on the clipboard into a form, regardless of its graphic format.

Open your graphic file in any graphics software.

Copy the graphic to the clipboard.

Click the add graphic button in the Customize window. Then click the location on the form where you want the graphic to appear. A graphic element appears.

Double-click the graphic element. The Field Properties window appears.

Click Paste Picture. The graphic appears in the Preview Picture area.

Type the field location and element size for the graphic.

Click OK. The graphic appears in the Customize window.

To add shapes to a form

You can draw lines, circles, squares and triangles on your form.

Click the Shapes button and choose a shape from the list. The selected shape appears on the form.

If you want to change the appearance of the shape, open the Format window and click the Fields tab.

Change the settings as required. You can change the color, border, location, rotation, and size of the shape.

If you want to move the shape to a different location on the form, drag and drop the shape using your mouse.

If you want to edit other properties of the shape, see ‘Editing all elements with common commands’ below.

To draw a line on a form

You can draw a vertical or horizontal line on a form.

Click the draw line button (

) and then click and hold the mouse at the location on the form where you want the line to begin.

Drag to where you want the line to end and then release the mouse button.

To draw a rectangle on a form

Click the Shapes button (

Click and hold the mouse at the location on the form where you want the top left corner of the rectangle to appear.

Drag to the right and down to where you want the rectangle to end and then release the mouse button.

To change the thickness of a line or rectangle

Double-click the line or rectangle. The Field Properties window appears.

Choose a thickness in the Line Size section of the Field Properties window.

Click OK.