How to Create a Survey in Excel

A survey is a reliable method to compile, compare and analyze data. Using Microsoft Excel, you can create a survey to distribute via email, over the Internet or on your website. Adding form controls to your Microsoft Excel spreadsheet can decrease errors and increase productivity when creating a survey. Microsoft Excel offers several form controls to create a survey, including option buttons, check boxes, list boxes and text boxes. The information that you include in the form controls can assist the end-user and limit the information entered in your survey.

Instructions

Enable Developer Tab

1. Open Microsoft Excel and click "File" tab.

2. Click "Options" and click "Customize Ribbon."

3. Click "Main Tabs" and check the "Developer" box. Click "OK" to close the dialog box. The Developer tab appears in your Excel ribbon.

Insert Check Box

1. Open the Excel spreadsheet that you want to create a survey.

2. Click the "Developer" tab and click "Insert" from the "Controls" group.

3. Click "Insert" and a drop-down list appears on your screen. Click "Check Box" under the "ActiveX Controls" heading.

4. Click the cell where you want the upper-left corner of the check box to appear in your spreadsheet.

5. Highlight the words "Check Box" and press "Delete." Type a property for your check box and press "Enter." This property might include "Yes" or "No," "Rent" or "Own" or "Full-Time" or "Part-Time," depending on the type of survey you are creating.

6. Right-click the check box and click "Format Control." Edit the check box's color, size, format and value. Click "OK" to close the Format Control dialog box.

Insert Option Button

1. Click the "Developer" tab and click "Insert" from the "Controls" group.

2. Click "Insert" and a drop-down list appears on your screen. Click "Option Button" under the "ActiveX Controls" heading.

3. Click the cell where you want the upper-left corner of the option button to appear in your spreadsheet.

4. Highlight the words "Option Button" and press "Delete." Type a property for your option button and press "Enter." This property might include "Yes" or "No," "Rent" or "Own" or "Full-Time" or "Part-Time," depending on the type of survey you are creating.

5. Right-click the option button and click "Format Control." Edit the option button's color, size, format and value. Click "OK" to close the Format Control dialog box.

Insert List Box

1. Create a list of entries for your drop-down list, which must not contain blank cells and must be in a single column or row. This list can include data on the same or another worksheet within your workbook.

2. Click the "Developer" tab and click "Insert" from the "Controls" group.

3. Click "Insert" and a drop-down list appears on your screen. Click "List Box" under the "Form Controls" heading.

4. Click the cell where you want the upper-left corner of the list box to appear in your spreadsheet.

5. Right-click the option button and click "Format Control." Click the "Control" tab.

6. Click the "Input Range" button select the list of entries for your list box. Press "Enter."

7. Edit the list box's size, format and value. Click "OK" to close the Format Control dialog box.

Insert Text Box

1. Click the "Insert" tab and click "Text Box" from the "Text" group.

2. Click the cell where you want the text box to appear in your worksheet.

3. Hover your mouse over a corner of the text box and your mouse changes to an arrow. This indicates that you can change the size of the box.

4. Click your mouse on the corner of the text box and drag it diagonally to the desired size.

5. Click inside the text box and type the information you want the text box to include. Highlight the text in the text box and click the "Home" tab. Use the settings in the "Font" group to format the information in the text box.

Tips & Warnings

• Microsoft Excel does not prevent users from checking more than one check box.

• If you add more than one option button to your spreadsheet, Excel allows users to select only one button.

References

• Microsoft Office: Add a Check Box, Option Button or Toggle Button
• Microsoft Office: Add, Copy or Delete a Text Box