How to construct a paper form inside Excel by scanning the form into Excel

[yabi]

I hope I am asking in the right place. Also this is some how related to Excel

not completely.

My task:
I have 5 paper forms. I have all my database inside an excel table sheet. I

have to fill 5 forms for each record. I have constructed 2 of the forms in 2

different sheets in the same file. When I enter record number in those tabs,

data are collected from db sheet by lookup formula.

My problem
So I have to make 3 more forms. This task is not difficult but it is tedious

and time consuming. I want the forms to look like exactly same as paper one.

My questions
1- What is your best solution to do this work?
2- In order to expedite the form construction task inside Excel, I was

thinking to scan the paper form into excel file, and make it transparent to

see it in the background so I can adjust the cell length and height easily and

fast to construct the form. I am not sure if it is possible or not and if

possible, how can I do the scan transparent to see the cells?

I should add that my forms are not in English so I don't think I can use

advantage of Adobe acrobat form solutions.

Will be thankful to have your ideas.

[gomathi7]

hi, out there, would be able to bring a solution to you, if you post a sample data sheet, clearly mentioning what you want, what you have, and what you have to create!! by your posting it appears to be vlookup issue but will be able to address it in a presice manner in case of a sample worksheet from you
Regards

[yabi]

hi, out there, would be able to bring a solution to you, if you post a sample data sheet, clearly mentioning what you want, what you have, and what you have to create!! by your posting it appears to be vlookup issue but will be able to address it in a presice manner in case of a sample worksheet from you
Regards

It seams that I was not able to state myself clearly.
I am quite new to this forum and I don't know if I can attach a file or not. I will explain my question again and if failed again then will consider to attach the file, considering to find a scanner to scan the form as a jpg file.

I have a paper form in my hand. I want to construct it in the excel and fill it using lookup command.
It is tedious to construct it from zero as it needs lots of work to adjust it precisely to look like the paper form.
I though if I can scan it into the Excel sheet and make it visible in the background of the cells, then this image in the background will help me to adjust the constructed form in excel easily and precisely.
My problem is not with lookup command or are commands. My problem is can I send the inserted image into background so that I can edit the cells height and width according to the boxes in the scanned form.

Is my question and request clear and understandable?

[Richard Buttrey]

Hi,

In short almost certainly no. Unlike an Excel shape or Smart Art 'picture' which has a transarency setting, any picture you scan and paste in does not. Hence you can't see cell contents behind the picture.

Even were it possible and unless your form is extremely simple with all input fields lining up exactly both horizontally and vertically, almost certainly you'd find it far too onerous to juggle column widths and row heights to make Excel fit your form.

I advise you to bite the bullet and design the form in the Excel sheet.