Microsoft KB Archive/291282

= How To Create an Automated Form with FILLIN Fields in Word 2002 =

Article ID: 291282

Article Last Modified on 5/7/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 2002 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q291282



For a Microsoft Word 2000 version of this article, see 238278.

IN THIS TASK
SUMMARY
 * How to Create the Template
 * How to Use the Template

REFERENCES



SUMMARY
This article describes how to create a simple form in a Word 2002 document that automatically prompts a user to fill in information.

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How to Create the Template
To create a template with automatic FILLIN fields, follow these steps:  On the File menu, click New. In the New Document task pane, click General Templates under New from template. In the Templates dialog box, select the template that you want to use. Under Create New, click Template. Click OK. Create the FILLIN fields. To do this, use either of the following methods.Method 1: Create a Field by Using the Menus

 Position the insertion point where you want to insert the text field. On the Insert menu, click Field. In the Categories list, click Mail Merge. In the Field Names list, click Fill-in.</li> In the Field properties box, type quotation marks around the message that you want to display. For example, use the following syntax to display a message that prompts users to enter a first and last name:

FILLIN &quot;Please enter your first and last name.&quot;

</li> Click OK.

A sample of the message appears. Click OK to return to your document.

NOTE: To view the field code that you just inserted, press ALT+F9.</li> Repeat steps a through f for every place in the document where you want to insert a FILLIN field.</li></ol>

Method 2: Create a Field by Using Keystrokes

<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;"> Position the insertion point where you want to insert the field.</li> Press CTRL+F9.

Field braces ({ }) appear in the document.</li> Position the insertion point inside the field braces.</li> Type the following

FILLIN &quot; &quot;

where  is the instruction that Word prompts the user with (about what to enter in this field).NOTE: If you press F9 while the insertion point is still on the field, you can see a sample of the message that will be displayed. You do not have to follow this step to create the FILLIN field.</li></ol>

</li> On the File menu, click Save As.</li> Name the template appropriately.</li></ol>

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How to Use the Template
To create new documents based on the new template, follow these steps:
 * 1) On the File menu, click New.
 * 2) In the New Document task pane, click General Templates.
 * 3) In the Templates dialog box, select your template, and then click OK.

Word creates a new document, automatically searches for all FILLIN fields in the document, and then starts to prompt the user for input.

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