Form Controls

Word offers three types of form fields: text, checkbox and drop-down.
A form field is a way of storing the value that is entered.

Think of a form field as an empty box is which the user can fill-in or enter data like a name or address
Form fields are quite flexible and offer you the power to limit the length and format of the data the user enters into the field.

You can also program the fields to perform calculations based upon information the user types into other form fields.

Text boxes - You can also use text fields to make calculations based on entries that users make in other form fields.
Checkboxes
Drop-down form field

All form fields have a bookmark associated with it.

Displaying the Form Field Options dialog box

1) Use the button on Forms toolbar
2) Double click the form field
3) Use the shortcut menu (Properties)

Form fields are the same size size as the text that follows them, if that text changes size then so does the form fields
It is possible however to define an exact size for the check box.

You can press the spacebar to toggle a check box either on or off.

Your form template should also contain any macros and AutoText entries

Creating a Simple Form

Open the document
Delete any unnecessary information and add any additonal text
Apply any necessary formatting
Choose (File > Save As) and save as a template.

Shade the boxes red where you want the form fields to be inserted so they can be inserted once you have finsihed the formatting.

The best forms are the ones that are well laid out and look organised.
A table is typically used to provide a good layout.

You will probably want to use a table to help provide the basic structure for your document.

Add your company logo and add the necessary formatting

Adding a Text Field

This enables the user to enter text, numbers, symbols and even perform calculations
This should be used when you are asking an open ended question

Adding a Check Box Field

This enables the user to make a selection
They can select more than one option.

Adding a Drop-Down Field

This enables the user to make a selection from a list of possible choices.

Important

If you want to make changes to the template at a later date be sure to open the template using the (File > Open) dialog box and not by double clicking the template in Windows Explorer.

Adding Help Messages

It is very easy to add built-in help to your forms.
You can use the help facility to elaborate on the options available, the information you want to collect or how to use th form itself.

This allows you to provide more detailed explainations than your form itself can display.
All of your forms should include help messages to help the users complete the form successfully.
Double click the form field to display the Form Field Options dialog box.
Click the Add Help text button
SS
Display the Form Field Help text dialog box

You can display help text in the status bar and/or with an additional dialog box when the user presses F1.
You can include both types of help for a field if you want to.
You could provide abbreviated help in the status bar and then more detailed help in the Help message box

Status Bar

When you click inside a form field that has a help message attached to it it will appear in the status bar.

None - No message will be displayed
AutoText entry - Displays the text from an autotext entry. No graphics can obviously be used.
Type your own - Displays the message typed into the box.

Specify the type of ??. Press F1 for more information.

Help Key (F1)

If you click inside a form field and press F1 an additional message box will be displayed.

Adding Macros

It is possible to add macros to your form fields.
All three types of form field allow you to execute a macro when the form field is enetered or exited.

This means that the form can help complete itself based on the specific entries and selections made by the user.

Select the macro you want to run by seletcting it from the Run macro on section.

Entry

This will execute the macro when the form field is selected

Exit

This will execute the macro when the form field is left either by pressing Tab or clicking on another form field.