How can I turn a word document into a template?

Question

Last year my boss gave me a hard copy of some kind of evaluation form. She had me type the same one up from scratch so our directors on my job can use it to give employees their annual evaluations. The form came out nice, but when some people go to type in it, it gets all discombobulated. Like when the people are trying to type in the comments box on the form, something happens and then they get an extra page. One of my directors is so frustrated with the form. I tried to convert into a template but the same thing keeps happening. How do I get the word document to be in a form where we can just go type in information and the boxes or columns will not move? If someone wants fix it for me I can send it to them. Please help! Thanks.

Answer 1

The basic problem is that people are inserting more information than you intend to have entered and the area expands and the page break changes. There are ways to handle this, but they involve tables and table and paragraph formatting. Saving the doc as a template (Save as or F12) only guarantees that each individual gets the same form, it does not prevent them from screwing it up.



I think the form is best created in tables. This allows the user to enter data in an underlined area and still be underlined. You can highlight a row and format it to stay a particular height and not grow if too much text is entered.



While in Word, press F1 and enter "online form" for help with this topic.



EDIT: I forgot to mention that if you eliminate cell borders (except for bottom borders in an area that is underlined) and resize individual cells, this does not have to look like a table



EDIT2: These tutorials will give you a great deal of help: https://www.google.com/search?q=word+online+form+tutorial&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-beta

Answer 2

Create your evaluation form using fields where you want responses. With fields you can determine the type of content and the amount of content so that your form doesn't lose its formatting easily.



Where you want text to be entered, click the cursor then click on the Developer tab, click on Design Mode, then click on the icon that looks like a folder with tools (lower right centre of the Controls Group). Click on the First icon (ab|) which is a text form field. This will insert a field into your document. Click on Properties and enter the type of information, default text, format, length of text etc.



Do this for each area where text will be entered.



When all is completed, click on the Developer tab, Protect Document, a dialogue box will open.



Go to item 2 and select Filling in Forms. Click on Start Enforcing Protection. Assign a password. Now save the document by clicking on the Office Button, Save As, fill in a name for the template, then Save as Type and choose Word Template (*.dotx)



You have now created a template that has fields to fill in that have restrictions on their content and the text of the form itself cannot be changed by the user.

Answer 3

Create your assessment variety using fields the situation you opt for responses. With fields you're valuable the style of content textile and the quantity of content textile so as that your variety does no longer lose its formatting relatively. the situation you opt for text textile to be entered, click the cursor then click on the Developer tab, click on format Mode, then click on the icon that sounds like a folder with techniques (shrink precise centre of the Controls group). click on the 1st icon (ab|) it somewhat is a text textile variety field. this would insert a field into your record. click on residences and enter the style of counsel, default text textile, format, length of text textile etc. attempt this for each section the situation text textile would be entered. on the comparable time as all is finished, click on the Developer tab, defend record, a talk field will open. bypass to merchandise 2 and are available to a decision Filling in varieties. click on start up up implementing guard practices. Assign a password. Now save the record via clicking on the situation of artwork Button, save As, fill in a popularity for the template, then save as variety and are available to a decision be wide awake Template (*.dotx) you have now created a template that has fields to fill wherein have regulations on their content textile and the text textile of the diversity itself can not be replaced via the guy.

Answer 4

I don't think that a template is what you want. You would be better off to re-save it as an interactive .pdf.



Go here for more info:

http://dappledesigns.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Create-Interactive-PDF-Forms-in-Adobe-Acrobat



or here:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4867955_create-fillable-pdf-files.html