How to create a simple, fillable form

using Microsoft Word©

So, you’ve been asked to create a form. What do

to?!?

Well, make it of course!

But isn’t that hard?

No . . . You can do it!

To begin, open a new Word document.

Do you have the Developer Tab on your ribbon at the top of the document?

If not, you need to add it.

Don’t worry . . . It’s not that bad!

Go to the File Tab, and scroll down to Options.

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On the screen that opens . . .

• Click on Customize Ribbon

• Go to the Main Tabs column

• Scroll down and check Developer

• Click OK

You now have the Developer Tab on your Ribbon.

Make your formatting choices:

Then add your title.

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• Font type

• Font size

• Font color

• Line spacing

• Borders

• Etc.

You’re ready to begin making form fields!

Let’s start by adding

a text field

• Type the label for your first text box

• Place your cursor where you want the box to appear

• Go to the Developer Tab on your ribbon

• Locate the Controls Box

• Click on either Aa icon (Rich Text or Plain Text) in the upper left corner of the box

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Next . . .

You now have a text form field!

Follow the same process to add as many text fields as you like.

Filled out, here’s what it looks like:

Now . . . How about a drop-down

menu?

No worries. . .

It will be GREAT!

• Type the label for your drop-down box

• Place your cursor where you want the box to appear

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To add a drop down menu field

• Go to the Developer Tab

• Find the Controls Box

• Click on the Drop Down List Content Control icon

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3Then . . .

High-Five! There’s your drop-down box!

But . . .You still need to add the

drop-down menu choices.

Come on now . . . A little enthusiasm please.

Yes!

That’s more like it!

• Go to the Developer Tab on your ribbon

• Locate the Controls Box

• Click on the Properties icon

• Enter a field title where indicated in the Content Control Properties box that opens

To begin . . .

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• Click on Add

• In the Add Choice window, type the Menu Option to be displayed

• Click OK

To add the drop down options . . .

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• Add as many drop-down choices as you like (steps 1 – 3)

Once all options have been added (step 4),

• Click OK in the Content Control Properties box (step 5)

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Keep going!

There is your populated drop-down menu.

Now, for a check-box field.

You know what to do!

• Type the label

• Add the check-box options

• Place your cursor where you want the first box to appear

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To add check-

box fields

• Go to the Developer Tab on your ribbon

• Locate the Controls Box

• Click on the Check Box Content Control icon

And there is your box!

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Next . . .

Your form is almost done now.

One last form field to add . . .

a Date Picker

(aka a calendar)

• Type the label for the date field

• Place your cursor where you want the box to appear

To add the date picker

field

• Go to the Developer Tab

• Find the Controls Box

• Click on the Date Picker Content Control icon

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Next . . .

And there is the Date Picker!

Two things left to do . . .

1.Restrict the form

You want people to fill it in, not change the form text.

2. Save your form

To prevent unintentional changes to

the form

• Go to the Developer Tab

• Find the Protect Box

• Click on Restrict Editing

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• Check the box under Editing Restrictions (step 1)

• Select Filling Forms from the drop down menu (step 2)

• Click on Yes, Start Enforcing Protection (step 3)

• Enter and re-enter an easy to remember password (step 4)

• Click Ok (step 5)

Under the box that opens . . .

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Your form is now safe.

Just this one more thing . . .

Save your form like any other Word Document

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And . . . you . . . are . . . DONE!

Great job!

Resources• Stock photos retrieved from:

o FreedigitalPhotos.neto http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

o Microsoft Officeo http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/