Drop Down Field Options - Add

[danka]

Hello:

I created a fill in Word form with the controls from the Form Toolbar. One
of them is a regular text field. Users always ask for more. Now, they say
they would like to be able to have options to select so they don't have to
type each time the "teacher's name". I cannot enter those names up front
because I don't know what the list will be. I can create drop down field
with the options but how would I have the options entered by the user? This
form is protected. Can I give user access to Add Option or create some sort
of dialog so the box can accept entries. I guess it would need to be
unprotected for this to happen. Is is possible?

Woudl appreciate your help.

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi danka,

I created a fill in Word form with the controls from the Form Toolbar. One
of them is a regular text field. Users always ask for more. Now, they say
they would like to be able to have options to select so they don't have to
type each time the "teacher's name". I cannot enter those names up front
because I don't know what the list will be. I can create drop down field
with the options but how would I have the options entered by the user? This
form is protected. Can I give user access to Add Option or create some sort
of dialog so the box can accept entries. I guess it would need to be
unprotected for this to happen. Is is possible?

My suggestion would be to provide the list in a UserForm. The user enters the
textfield, which triggers a macro ("On Enter" in the formfield Options). This
macro displays a userForm with the list of names. The user selects a name and
the code behind the Userform enters it into the textbox. All this without
unprotecting.

In order to fill the list in the form field you can use some kind of outside
source. A table in another word document; a simple text file; an Excel
spreadsheet... Whatever is most convenient for you and your users.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 17 2005)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply
in the newsgroup and not by e-mail

 

[danka]

Hello Cindy:

1. Thanks for your response. I was thinking that possibly I could have a
table somewhere at the top of my form which could be used for entering names
( up to 10). I am not sure though how to indicate data source for drop down
form field .

-
danka

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Danka,

1. Thanks for your response. I was thinking that possibly I could have a
table somewhere at the top of my form which could be used for entering names
( up to 10). I am not sure though how to indicate data source for drop down
form field .

There's no way to dynamically link a form field with a data source. You'd need
to use some kind of macro code to actually fill the list. Maybe a toolbar button
or a MacroButton field in the table? On that instructs the user to click "here"
in order to update the list with the names?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 17 2005)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply
in the newsgroup and not by e-mail