How to Insert a Checkbox in Microsoft Word 2007

Create check boxes in Microsoft Word 2007.

If you want to create a form for people to fill out electronically using Microsoft Office Word 2007, then you can manually insert checkboxes into your document. Once the boxes are added, a large X will appear in each box after anyone clicks on that box. You can also leave the boxes blank if you want to print out the document as a form to fill out, a checklist or a shopping list. Note that for users to be able to check the boxes within the document, you will have to lock the form using Word's Protection feature.

Instructions

1. Click to place the cursor in any area within the document where you want to insert a checkbox.

2. Click the "Microsoft Office" button located in the upper left corner of the document. Click "Popular," and then check the "Show Developer Tab in the Ribbon" box.

3. Click the “Developer” tab now visible in the Ribbon, and then click the “Legacy Tools” option from the Controls group.

4. Click the “Check Box Form Field” option below the Legacy Forms section. The checkbox will be added to your document. To remove gray shading from the checkbox, click "Legacy Tools" again, then click "Form Field Shading," which looks like a button with the letter "a" on it, to remove the shading.

5. Click "Design Mode" located in the Controls group within the Developer tab to ensure that design mode is turned off.

6. Click the "Developer" tab and then click the "Protect Document" option from the Protect group. Click the "Restrict Formatting and Editing" option.

7. Select the box next to the "Allow Only This Type of Editing in the Document" field below the "Editing Restrictions" field and then select the "Filling in Forms" option.

8. Click the "Yes, Start Enforcing Protection" option below the Start Enforcement heading and then enter a password into the "Enter New Password (optional)" field that you want to use to protect the document and confirm the password. If you don't select a password, then anyone who works in the document can alter your editing restrictions. Click "OK" and you will now be able to click on the checkbox that you inserted.

Tips & Warnings

• To manually insert a blank checkbox that is not interactive, create a customized bulleted list. Type the list and select it with the mouse. Select the "Home" tab and click "Bullets." Click "Define New Bullet," click "Symbol" and select a symbol font such as Wingdings. Double-click the check box you want to insert, and click "OK" to close the Bullets dialog box.

References

• Microsoft Office: Make a Checklist in Word
• Microsoft Office: Create Forms That Users Complete in Word

Resources

• Read this Article in Portuguese