Turn Your Form into a Data-Tracking Template

Open the workbook that contains the form you want to base your template on. If you have not created the form yet, do so before using the Template Wizard. You can get a head start by using one of the workbook templates provided. For example, the form shown in this topic was created with the Invoice template. For more information, see The Template You Need May Already Exist.

When your form is ready, click Template Wizard (Data menu), and then follow the instructions in the wizard. In step 1, give the template a name. In step 2, specify the name and location of the database you want to create a link to. If the database doesn’t exist yet, the wizard creates it in the file type and location you specify.

Which database file types can you link to?   The Template Wizard can link forms to databases in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft FoxPro (r), Paradox, dBASE, and SQL Server. When necessary, new databases can be created in these applications, except SQL Server and Paradox. Make the form attractive and easy to read   Use formatting to emphasize important information and make the form easy to fill out. For example, you can add borders, pictures, or shading; change the font, style, and size of text; and format the numbers. For more information, see Make Your Microsoft Excel Worksheet Look Great.

Prevent Unwanted Changes to the Form

If co-workers will be adding data to the form, you can protect cells containing information that should not be changed, leaving only specific cells available for editing.

First select the cells you want available to your co-workers for editing. Click Cells (Format menu). On the Protection tab, clear the Locked check box. Then protect the rest of the cells by clicking Protect Sheet (Tools menu, Protection submenu). For additional security, you can also assign a password in the Protect Sheet dialog box.

Office Assistant button

Want to know more?   Look up Getting Results - Invoices in Help.