How to Create HTML Forms in Open Office

Instead of using an expensive web design software suite to create your HTML web forms, use an application that is absolutely free. OpenOffice is a free, open-source software suite with applications for word processing, spreadsheets, databases and presentations. With a moderate knowledge of web design and a little understanding of HTML, use the OpenOffice Writer application to create web forms with text boxes, drop-down lists, check boxes and option buttons.

Instructions

1. Download the OpenOffice suite from the OpenOffice.org website and install it on your computer. See the "OpenOffice.org Free Download" link listed in the Resources section. The entire suite is rather large, so download it over a broadband connection and not dial-up, or you may tie up your phone lines for hours.

2. Open the OpenOffice Writer application, go to the "File" menu at the top, select "New," and then "HTML Document." A new blank document will display with “OpenOffice.org Writer/Web” in the title bar at the top of the OpenOffice window.

3. Type a heading at the top of your HTML document. For this example, type “HTML Web Form” at the top.

4. Create form labels to identify the form field controls. For this example, type “Last Name:”, press "Enter," and then type “First Name:” beneath the “Last Name” label.

5. Add Text Box controls to your form. Go to the "View" menu at the top, select "Toolbars," and then select "Form Controls." On the Form Controls toolbar, click the "Text Box" button. Go to the space to the right of your “Last Name” label, click and drag the text box so that it is the size you want. Do the same thing for the “First Name” field below “Last Name.”

6. Add more form controls as needed. The toolbar displays controls for check boxes, option buttons, push buttons, list boxes, and combo boxes. Feel free to add any of these to your form. If you need additional information on each control, see the OpenOffice Help system by clicking the Help menu above.

7. Save the form as an HTML file. Go to the "File" menu and select "Save As." In the "Save As" dialog box, select the folder in which you want to save your new form, enter the title of your web form in the "File Name" field, and ensure the "Save as Type" is “HTML Document.” Click "Save."

8. Open your new HTML web form in your favorite web browser. Check to make sure the formatting is correct and that the form control fields display correctly. You can now “hook” the HTML form to a database by adding additional coding and URL information to the <form> element in the HTML file.

References

• OpenOffice.org Wiki: Forms
• OpenOffice Suite Help System

Resources

• OpenOffice.org Free Download
• Tutorials for OpenOffice
• W3C Online Tutorials