The term “Warm ++” is invented here for descriptive purposes.
#Text form fields word 2013 how to
See How to update fields for more details about manually updating fields. The group of warm fields include both fields that are automatically updated when the source changes and fields that can be manually updated.
This also means that a cold field includes nothing to be updated.Ī field that has a result and that can be updated.
You can read more about the different layers in a Word document later in this article. You will find my macro for updating fields here: Macro – Update All Fields in Word Document. The easiest way to update all fields in a document with fields spread across several layers is to use a macro. Note that a text box in Word is actually a shape which means that it acts as other shapes in relation to updating fields. This also means that you may need to manually take care of the field update in those areas of a document. This automatic control does not apply to fields in footnotes, endnotes, text boxes and shapes. To protect the document:Fields in footnotes, endnotes, text boxes and shapesĪs is true for headers and footers, footnotes, endnotes, text boxes and shapes you create using the tools in Insert tab > Illustrations group > Shapes reside in their own layers in a Word document, separated from the main body.Īs explained above, fields in headers and footers are updated more automatically than other fields. To be able to enter data in the text box, you have to disable the Design Mode (ALT+L, DM)įinally, you need to protect the document before you publish the document to capture information using the text box fields. Here, you can edit properties such as MaxLength, Caption, Font, etc. To change the properties of the text box, select the text box and then click Properties (ALT+L, L). By default, the text box is opened in the design mode. Word creates a text box field at the cursor position. How to add an ActiveX control Text field in Word?įrom drop-down menu, under section ActiveX Controls, click the Text Box (ActiveX Control) icon (or press ALT+L, N, T). Note: Please note that the button Yes, Start Enforcing Protection will not be activated unless you disable the Design Mode option. Click button Yes, Start Enforcing Protection.On the pane under the heading Editing Restrictions, select the checkbox (Allow only this type of editing in the document) and select option Filling in Forms from the drop-down list below.Select option Restrict Formatting and Editing from drop-down.Under the Developer tab, click icon Protect Document under the group Protect.To protect a document, follow the steps stated below: Protect the document: To be able enter data in the legacy text field, you need to protect the Word document.
Word displays the Words Form Field Options dialog box, where you can select the text field Type (regular text, number, date, current date, etc.), maximum length of the field, etc. To switch to design mode, click the Design Mode icon (or press ALT+L, DM).ĭouble-click the text field in the document. You can change the properties of the text field in the design mode.
Word creates a shaded text field at the cursor position. A drop-down menu appears.įrom the drop-down menu, under section Legacy Form, click the Text Form Field icon (or press ALT+L, N, E). On the Word Ribbon, under tab Developer, click icon Legacy Tools (or press ALT+ L, N).