Veterinary Laboratory Specimen Advice template instructions
For power users
If you know where Word keeps template files on your computer, you may choose to move the file there. The following instructions should work for Word 2002 or later. Otherwise we suggest you always use it from the convenient location to which you downloaded it.
- Find your customised template in Windows Explorer, right click and select 'Copy'. The default file name is 'vet-specimen-submission-form.dot'. You may choose to change this file name, but you need to keep the '.dot' extension.
- In Word, choose 'File > New' and click 'General templates' in the task pane.
- A template selection window will open. Right click over an empty space and choose 'Paste'.
- Cancel the file window, then try creating a new file by selecting the template just created from those in ‘General templates’.
- If it all worked properly, you can delete the original customised file.
Note: There are two different ways to start a Word template, 'Open' and 'New'. 'Open' loads the .dot template file, while 'New' starts a new .doc file based on the template. You should only use the 'Open' mode if you wish to edit the base template. The danger of using 'Open' on a regular basis is that it is very easy to overwrite the template with the filled-in form.
The default action when you double click on the file in Windows Explorer is usually 'New', but on some computers, it may be 'Open'. You can check this on your own computer by locating a .dot template file in Windows Explorer and right click over the file. The default option will be bold. It also makes sense that if you 'Open' a file from Word, it will be in 'Open' mode.
You can use the MS Word template directly from the website at any time:
- Open the Word template from the website by clicking on the link.
- Choose 'Open' if asked.
- Choose 'Enable Macros' if asked.
- Complete the form and save it (see Instructions below).
You may have to modify your Word security settings for all the features of the template to work properly. You will have to fill in all your own details each time you use the template.
Customise the template file (once only)
- Download the Word template by right clicking the link and saving the file to a convenient folder such as the desktop.
- Open the file from the desktop or from Windows Explorer by right clicking the icon and choosing 'Open'.
- Edit the file so that it includes your constant information such as your name, practice and contact details.
- Save the modified file.
Refer to Windows or MS Word help for assistance to set up your computer or to use document templates.
Using the customised template file
If you are using the template from the desktop or another folder, do the following:
- From the desktop or Windows Explorer, right click over your customised template file and choose 'New'. Note if 'New' is bold, you can safely use double click to start the template each time. This is not the case if 'Open' is bold.
- Choose 'Enable Macros' if asked.
- Complete the form and save it (see Instructions below).
If you have saved your template in the Word template area, you can use the normal 'new document' procedure:
- Click 'New' from the MS Word File menu.
- Select your customised template from the 'General Templates' view or directly from the list under 'New from template'.
- Complete the form and save it (see Instructions below).
Instructions for completing electronic form
Read these instructions in conjunction with the Specimen submission form instructions (http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/vetmanual/submission/specimen-submission-form).
Once you have opened the template, fill in the details by moving from field to field. You can use the tab key to move between fields, or click on the shaded field area. Click on check boxes to select (adds a cross). Clicking a check box a second time will remove the cross from a check box.
You can type freely into the 'History' section, which will expand to accommodate as much text as you need. You can also insert images in this section if needed.
Some special form commands are available from a dropdown menu (pictured below), which allow the form to be spell-checked and the field shading to be switched on and off. If for some reason this dropdown menu is not visible on your computer, the spellcheck function can also be accessed by selecting 'Tools > Macro > Macros' and choosing 'RunSpellcheck'.
The form is in 'Protected' mode, which allows the fields to operate correctly. However, there are some Word functions, such as compressing images, that will not work if the document is protected. The protected mode can be disabled if needed, but we suggest that it be reinstated before saving. To remove protection, choose 'Tools > Unprotect Document'. To re-enable protection, choose 'Tools > Protect Document ... OK'.