Forming Up Your Genealogy--Part 5 Text Form Field

You can add three different types of form fields. Each type has a specific use, which is reflected in choices you make in its associated properties. You need to understand the use for each type to plan your form effectively. 

A text box form field is used to collect information like a name, place, or date. Your form user clicks in the field and types an answer in the field.

A check box form field is added beside an entry in a list. For example, you might add a check box beside a place name list (Sparta, Blair, Chester, Houston, Steeleville). Your user clicks the check box beside one or more of the correct entries. 

A drop-down list form field is added with a list of acceptable answers. For example, you might add a gender list  (Male, Female, Unknown). Your user clicks to display a drop-down list and selects one option from the list of available answers. 

We are going to look at the properties for each type of field, starting with the text form field. 

Insert Text Form Field

1. Click in the place in the document, where you want your reader to answer a question. For example, you might have text in the document that says:
   What is your name?
   Click after the question mark and press the space bar to add one space.
2. Insert the text form field
   --Click the Developer tab.
   --In the Controls group, click the Legacy Tools button.
   --Click the Text Form button. A small gray square appears in your document.

Adjust Properties

1. Right-click in the gray square and a pop-up menu appears. 
2. Select Properties. The Text Form Fields Options dialog appears. 
3. In the Type field, select a type: Regular Text, Number, Date, Current date, Current time, Calculation. Since you're adding a name field, select Regular Text. If you were asking for a date, you would pick Date. 
4. In Default text, enter instructions. For example, enter: Enter Name. A user will be able to replace this text. 
5. In Maximum length, enter a number. For example, enter 40 to allow a 40 character name. If you leave the control set at Unlimited, your user will be able to enter paragraphs...which you may want if you are collecting another sort of info. 
6. In Text format, select an option: uppercase, lowercase, first capital, or title case. For a name, select first capital. 
7. Skip Run macro on fields. A macro is off topic for these posts.
8. Skip Bookmarks fields. We'll talk further about bookmarks later. They have an interesting use.
9. Click OK. 

That's it for this first field. You can't do much with the fields until we start enforcing protection. So just hang in with me while I explain how to set up each field. Next, we'll look at the check box form field.