Developed by:  Roger R. Rousseau, B.Sc. (EE), P. Eng.   Email:  r.r.r@shaw.ca

What is FactorForms?

FactorForms is a website which accepts a regular MSWord (doc/docx) file saved directly from MSWord in Web Page Format (htm) so as to function as an interactive fill in the blank web page form which can be accessed from any computer, tablet or phone.  FactorForms immediately saves the data to the server whenever a field is updated on the client browser to prevent any loss of data in case of power failures, loss or damage of devices or people simply forgetting to save the form.  FactorForms also facilitates a search capability on the data input to identify forms containing particular data.

 

what is the purpose of factoryforms?

FactoryForms provides a dynamic solution for any user, company or factory that wants to go paperless with their fill in the blank MSWord forms without having to have custom webpages created, programmed and maintained by IT professionals for every document update.  Create and update as many documents, in your familiar MSWord, as you like and FactoryForms will compile, manage and present them for you exactly as you designed them.  No need to change the way you are currently working.  Everything stays the same for you with the benefit of going paperless, important forms are never lost for whatever reason and now are electronically searchable and available.

 

How does factoryforms work?

FactoryForms works by uploading your MSWord htm document and it’s supporting htm files on the Templates screen where your form is immediately compiled into a functional FactoryForms Template.  The template name is the document name appended with a timestamp.  The Templates can be opened and configured with default values by clicking their link and modifying their input fields.  The Templates are intended to be used as the name Templates implies.  They are a repository from which to create instances of activities to be used in production.  Activities are created from the selected Templates by clicking the Activate button.  Instances of those selected Templates are generated under the Activities tab with the same name as their Template with a new unique timestamp appended.  The Activities are intended to be used and shared in production activities and when completed should be selected and sent Archive.  The Archive tab offers the ability to search/filter Activities on input values, template names and date range.

 

Getting started?

1)    Open a new or any existing MSWord (doc/docx).

2)    Place, position and size MSWord ActiveX Textboxes, from under the Developer tab, in your document for your input fields.  Most likely you will have to unhide the Developer tab through ‘Customize the Ribbon…’ and simply checking it to be visible.  Currently, only single and multi-line textboxes are supported.

3)    Save your document as an MSWord Web Page Format (htm) file which will also produce a supporting ‘_files’ folder with the same name ending with ‘_files’.

4)    Upload both the htm and the contents of its supporting ‘_files’ folder to FactoryForms in the Templates tab.  You should receive an acknowledgement that your files have been successfully uploaded.

5)    Once the Template has been upload it should appear in the Templates list appended with a timestamp.  On the Templates tab you can click the link to open the form to view or fill in fields for default values.

6)    Select the Template forms which you want to activate for use and then click the Activate button.  The selected Template forms will be copied and timestamped for active use under the Activate tab.  Activated forms are essentially instances of your Template forms for use in production.

7)    Clicking on an activated form opens the form for use with any fields populated from Templates.  Fill out the activated form and when completed select and click the Archive button to move the forms to archive.  Archived forms can be filtered by input content, name and date range.