'Don’t send letters without adding your details!' blog discussion

Former_MSE_Lawrence

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's 'Don’t send letters without adding your details!' Blog.

Click reply to discuss below.

mikki-b

Another option maybe to make a form instead. That way the person puts in their details, (name, address, account no etc) and then the letter is generated automatically with all the details in. I know theres likely to security issues with this but I'm sure some IT person can figure that out, so that people details aren't actually sent across the net.

MSE_Martin

mikki-b wrote: »

Another option maybe to make a form instead. That way the person puts in their details, (name, address, account no etc) and then the letter is generated automatically with all the details in. I know theres likely to security issues with this but I'm sure some IT person can figure that out, so that people details aren't actually sent across the net.

We went through that, but the worry is its then too rigid for people to change. Also there's a worry about the legal liability of a "generated" letter ratehr than a "template" letter and whether we're responsible.

Martin

reehsetin

not sure about the legal difference, but i was going to suggest a generated letter too, purely in the same way this is, people can still fill their own details in but it allows guidance of what to say

Crabman

Is there a feature to create text that shows up on-screen in Word but won't actually print out in the event someone doesn't delete it?

Excel has something known as 'ToolTips' which are comments that only display when you hover over a particular cell. The comment won't show up when the spreadsheet is printed.

MothballsWallet

Crabman: I think Word supports hidden text (probably as a comment field) as does OpenOffice (I'll have to look into this when I've got a bit more time).

[nerd]I think you set up comments in your document, and make sure that the print options do not print the comments out: I think this can be done as one of the VBA macros connected to the "Document Print" event.[/nerd]

saintstreaky

In your 'Important! Please Read then delete this Box' box, maybe suggest that it might be worth asking someone else to read it through to check it? There must be a way of wording it so it doesn't come across as too patronising (like the way they suggest getting someone to check your CV) - and I'm sure even Martin benefits from someone else proof-reeding [sic ] once in a while!

Clowance

"change the text colour"
- this isn't necessary if you have a black and white printer; also many people would have no idea how to do this.

davebush

You can set text as "hidden", but the trouble is that people won't necessarily have Word set to display it.

I think that asking people to change the text colour is a bit too advanced. It would be better to leave the "Your Address" part in black, but surounded in Blue "delete this" instructions.

(Another alternative might be write a macro that deleted the stuff that's not supposed to be there.)

Mobeer

For the box you have added:
(i) make sure it covers some important part of the letter, or maybe the whole page
(ii) note that the author should get someone else to proof-read the letter - I would not let you use "you’ve" in a letter as it is too casual.