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Q142213: WD97: How to Create an Automated Form with Fill-in Fields

Article: Q142213
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbdta kbfield word97kbfaq
Last Modified: 14-NOV-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Word 97 for Windows 
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SUMMARY
=======

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

MORE INFORMATION
================

Follow these steps to create a template with automatic fill-in fields:

1. On the File menu, click New.

2. Select Blank Document.

3. Under Create New, select Template. Click OK.

4. Create the Fill-in Fields.

  There are two methods you can use to create fill-in fields: menus and
  keystrokes. Select the method best suited for you.

  Method 1: Creating a Field Using the Menus:

  a. Position the insertion point where you want to insert the text field.

  b. On the Insert menu, click Field.

  c. In the Categories list, select Mail Merge.

  d. In the Field Names list, select Fill-in.

  e. The FILLIN field is displayed in the Field Codes text box below the
     Categories list. Click inside of the text box to the right of the word
     FILLIN and type quotation marks around the prompt you want to display. For
     example, use the following syntax to display a prompt asking the user to
     enter their name:

  FILLIN "Please enter your first and last name."

  f. Click OK. You will see a sample of the prompt. Click OK to return to your
     document.

     NOTE: To view the field code you just inserted, press ALT+F9.

  g. Repeat steps a-f for every place in the document where you want a fill-in
     field.

Method 2: Creating a Field Using Keystrokes.

  a. Position the insertion point where you want to insert the field.

  b. Press CTRL+F9. Field braces, { }, appear in the document.

  c. Position the insertion point inside the field braces.

  d. Type the following, where <prompt> is what Word asks the user to
     type:

  FILLIN "<prompt>"

     NOTE: If you press F9 while the insertion point is still on the field, you
     can see a sample of the prompt that will be displayed. This step is not
     necessary to create the fill-in.

5. On the File menu, click Save As.

6. Name the template appropriately.

Using the Template
------------------

To create new documents based on the new template, follow these steps.

1. On the File menu, click New.

2. Click to select your template.

3. Click OK.

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

Additional Information
----------------------

For additional information about creating online forms with form fields, please
see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q141990 WD97: How to Create an Online Form Using Form Fields

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

REFERENCES
==========

For more information about SET fields, click Contents And Index on the Help
menu, click the Index tab in Word Help, type the following text

  SET (bookmark) field

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "SET field" topic. If you
are unable to find the information you need, ask the Office Assistant.

For more information about ASK fields, click Contents And Index on the Help menu,
click the Index tab in Word Help, type the following text

  ASK field

and then click Show Topics. Select the "Examples of ASK and FILLIN fields" topic,
and click Go To. If you are unable to find the information you need, ask the
Office Assistant.

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the
Standard toolbar. If Word Help is not installed on your computer, please see the
following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q120802 Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office Program or Component

Additional query words: fillin field fields forms auto keyboard merge automatic automatically vba

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Keywords          : kbdta kbfield word97 kbfaq
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Issue type        : kbhowto

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