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=Welcome to the Word Forms Wiki!=

Please edit or add to this Wiki as you learn more about Word Forms. To see the actual fields in use, click on the button below and open the file to experiment with the fields.

===Word Forms === Here is an explanation of my understanding of the controls available for Word Forms. The programmers kept the old fields (Legacy Fields), but added new ones, too. Please feel free to add to this Wiki or edit it so everyone can gain a better grasp of forms and controls. //Remember this used to be a "clean" feature in Word 2003 and earlier.// __** Use the Developer Tab to Create Forms **__ // Types of Controls: // 1. __Form Content Controls__ - main buttons in Controls Group (cannot tab between fields; **down arrow** works to move from field to field; group fields together; no protection necessary). These content controls were new in Word 2007. They don’t require form protection and don’t require macros, although macros can be used to make the controls more useful. If you want to make a document where users can edit only inside the content controls, select the whole document (or just a part of it) and use the Group button. This type of protection does not interfere with other features the way form protection does.

The main drawback of content controls is that they can’t be used in Word 2003 or earlier, even if you have the Compatibility Pack that lets you open docx files. Don’t use content controls if the document must be sent to those who do not have Word 2007 or higher. Use legacy form fields (see below) instead. The check box content control was not in 2007 but is in 2010. (see doc linked above for examples)

2. __Legacy Form Controls__: used in previous versions of Word, as the name implies; use these when forms might be sent to people who are not yet using Word 2010; save document or template in Compatibility Mode; **can tab between fields; must enforce protection to fill-in and tab between controls**; the top row of buttons in the legacy group creates form fields that operate only when the document is protected for forms. Once locked, only the fields can be edited. This works well but does disable some features such as spell check unless macro programming is used; c an set up fields and use text form field as a Calculated Control (=2+6 set up in control on sample document linked above)

3. __Legacy ActiveX Controls__: **(can tab between fields; enforce protection) The ActiveX** Controls are meant for web pages but can be used in other documents. They require macros to operate (works behind scenes unless you want to edit them). (see doc linked above for examples)