How to Create Forms With Software

It's easy to make forms in Microsoft Word.

Making forms that you print out for others to fill in or to post on a website seems like it would take a lot of work or require special software. In reality, all you need is your standard word processor, such as Microsoft Word, to get the job done. In this program, you can create a form with several question and answer styles and fields to make for a truly custom end result that ensures you collect the information you need.

Instructions

1. Open Microsoft Word or OpenOffice. Create a new document. Right-click on the toolbar and check the "Forms" box. This will bring up the Forms toolbar. If using Google Docs, select "Create New," "Form."

2. Write the form instructions and add a header or an image at the top of your form. Skip a few lines, then write the name of the first field for which you wish to gather information if you're using Word or OpenOffice. For simplicity's sake, this first field could be "Name." Press the "Tab" key. If using Google Docs, a text field should have been created automatically. Change "Sample Question 1" to "Name."

3. Click "Text Form Field" on the Forms toolbar and click on the rectangle that is added to the document next to the Name field in Word or OpenOffice. Select the type of form field this is to be in the "Text Form Field Options" list. Type some default text in the box or leave it blank. Click "OK." In Google Docs, enter helper text to describe the first field. In this case, it may read something like "Write your first and last name." Select "Text" from the "Question Type" drop-down menu. Click "Done."

4. Add more questions and text form fields to your form. Just skip a few lines in between each.

5. Add drop-down menus to your form. Identify what the menu will contain, like state names, then press the "Tab" key before clicking the "Drop-Down Form Field" button in Word or OpenOffice. Click on the rectangle that's created and add the items you'd like to be listed in the menu, such as "Alabama" and "Alaska." Click "Drop-Down Enabled" when you're done adding options to the menu list. In Google Docs, create a new item called "Choose." Give the field a title, then input the options to be included in the menu. Click "Done."

6. Click "Protect Form" in Word or OpenOffice when you're done making the form. Save the document. Print out the form for distribution. In Google Docs, click "Save." Click on "More Actions," "Embed" to embed the form into your website.

References

• Microsoft Office: Prepare a Form for Distribution
• Lost in Technology: How to Create a Form in Google Docs

Resources

• OpenOffice.org Training Tips, and Ideas