Microsoft Knowledge Base

In Microsoft File, if you create a new data file and apply an existing form, the fields in Show Form are grayed and no information can be entered in the data file.

Opening a form will show only fields that already exist in the data file. To create a new data file with an existing form, do one of the following:

Method 1

Create a new blank data file and apply and format the existing form as follows:

1. From the File menu, choose New Datafile.

2. From the Form menu, choose Show Form.

3. From the File menu, choose Open Form, select the form for the file that contains the desired form, and click the Open button.

4. From the Edit menu, choose Select All.

5. From the Form menu, choose Format Field and click the OK button.

Method 2

Create an empty copy of the existing data file that uses the desired form, as follows:

1. Open the data file that is to be replicated.

2. Activate the Records window by clicking one of the records of data.

3. Select all the records by choosing Select All from the Edit menu.

4. From the Organize menu, choose Hide records.

5. From the File menu, choose Save Records As and save the document under a new name.