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# Placeable Bitmaps

Placeable bitmaps are data fields that display bitmap images instead of data. Instead of a value, they contain a reference to a bitmap file that is loaded into the field when the form is displayed or printed.

Placeable bitmap fields can be used to load customer-specific or form-specific images into a form. A homeowner’s insurance form could, for example, include a picture of the house. The “value” placed in the field would reference the house picture for that form.

Because placeable bitmaps are data fields, they require a data ID and description. They can be positioned and sized like any other object. Any image that can be placed in your form can be loaded into a placeable bitmap field. The Preserve Aspect property can be enabled to ensure that the image is inserted proportionally when it is loaded into the field. If it is disabled, the image is sized to fit the field.

To insert placeable bitmaps, data fields must be activated. If the button is not pushed in on the Activate tool bar, click on it to activate data fields.

To create a placeable bitmap

1. Click the on the tool bar. The mouse pointer will change to .

2. Place the + of the pointer at the place where you want to insert your placeable bitmap.

3. Hold the left mouse button down and drag the mouse to create the field:

To draw a square placeable bitmap, press while you draw the field.

4. When the field is the size you want the image to be, release the mouse button:

5. Set the Preserve Aspect property on the Object tab:

Value | Description
Yes | To maintain the original proportions of the bitmap image when it is displayed.
No | To size the bitmap to fit the field.

Important:

The Preserve Aspect property is not available in 5.1 compatibility mode. Therefore, because the horizontal and vertical dimensions of your bitmap will be “skewed” to fit the size of the field, it is important to know the horizontal/vertical aspect ratio of your bitmap image and draw your field accordingly.

Hint:

To make your image “proportionally correct” in 5.1 compatibility mode, draw a placeable bitmap field that is the exact size of the full image (e.g., 3 × 5). Then press and resize the field to fit your form. With pressed, the field will resize proportionally.

To set placeable bitmap field properties

1. Click on the Field property page:

2. Enter the data ID and description for the placeable bitmap: