I've not shown you anything, yet, that you can't do with legacy form fields! In fact, a content control form developed to the point demonstrated has several nagging shortcomings, and one serious design flaw. If a simple form like the one demonstrated is all content control forms can offer, then I wouldn't bother writing on. If a simple form like the one demonstrated above is all that you are after, then you don't need to read on. In the Restrict Formatting and Editing pane that appears, apply protection for Filling in forms and then start enforcing protection. To apply editing restrictions to the form, click Developer>Protect>Restrict Editing. I'll demonstrate the other methods and explain 'albeit practically useless' later in the discussion. This method is already familiar to users moving from legacy forms and it offers, the albeit practically useless, password protection. Unfortunately, as with legacy forms, there is no perfect, ideal method and each has its advantages and disadvantages.įor our basic form, I will use traditional document editing restrictions - Filling in forms. There are a couple of ways that you can do this with content control forms. This Microsoft Word Help & Tips page will show you how to create a functional content control form 'similar' to the insurance application form example that Dian uses in part 2 of her legacy form series.īasic form with fill-in plain text and checkbox content controls Restrict Editing - Filling in formsĪs with any form, a Word content control form is supposed to maintain 'form.' You want the form user to input information is the spaces provided, and not be able to alter other content or your form layout.

While the legacy form fields are still available through Word 2013, and several long standing content control shortcomings remain in my opinion, content controls stand poised to relegate 'legacy' form fields to the dust bin of history. Note: I have a summary and a steadily growing collection of subject articles on content controls beginning here: Content Controls.

Content controls continue to evolve and have been steadily expanded and enhanced as each new Office suite version is released.

Microsoft introduced content controls with the release of Word 2007. Chapman explaining their design and use beginning here: Please Fill Out This Form. There is an excellent 5 part series of articles by Dian D. Word forms using 'legacy' form fields have been around since at least Word 97. call them what you will like their predecessor, the printed page with lines, Microsoft Word forms provide a structured and convenient means for the document user to input information. Online forms, protected forms, fill-in forms, electronic 'e' forms.

How to create a form in word