HOW TO: Create an Automated Form with Fill-in Fields in Word 2000

This article explains how to create a simple form that automatically prompts a user to fill in information.

Create a Template With Automatic Fill-in Fields

To create a template with automatic Fill-in fields, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click New, and then click Blank Document.
2. Under Create New, click Template. Click OK.
3. Create the Fill-in fields.
   
   There are two methods that you can use to create Fill-in fields: menus and keystrokes. Select the method best suited for your circumstances.

Method 1: Create a Field by Using the Menus

1. Position the insertion point where you want to insert the text field.
2. On the Insert menu, click Field.
3. In the Categories list, click Mail Merge.
4. In the Field Names list, click Fill-in.
5. The FILLIN field is displayed in the Field codes text box below the Categories list. Click inside the text box to the right of the word FILLIN, and then type quotation marks around the message that you want to display. For example, use the following syntax to display a message that asks the user to enter a first and last name:
   FILLIN "Please enter your first and last name."
6. Click OK. You then see a sample of the message. Click OK to return to your document.
   
   NOTE: To view the field code that you just inserted, press ALT+F9.
7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 for every place in the document that you want a FILLIN field.

Method 2: Create a Field by Using Keystrokes

1. Position the insertion point where you want to insert the field.
2. Press CTRL+F9. Field braces ({ }) appear in the document.
3. Position the insertion point inside the field braces.
4. Type the following, where message is the instruction that Word prompts the user with (about what to enter in this field):
   FILLIN "message"
   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. This step is not necessary to create the FILLIN field.
5. On the File menu, click Save As.
6. Name the template appropriately.

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. Select your template.
3. Click OK.

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

You can also use SET and ASK fields in conjunction with FILLIN fields.

For additional information about forms, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about the SET field, click Microsoft Help on the Help menu, type field codes: set field in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

For more information about the ASK field, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type field codes: ask field in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.