How to Make a Word Document Fillable
2024-09-27 19:02:30 • Filed to: Word Tips and Tricks • Proven solutions
There are times when you need to create a form where others can fill out. It is important to mention that creating just a form can be easy, but the main challenge comes with creating a fillable Word document. Knowing how to make a Word document fillable, you need to read up the steps required before you start the process. Fortunately, everything you need to know on how to create a fillable PDF in Word is right here.
How to Make a Word Document Fillable
To make a Word document fillable, you are likely going to start with a template and then add content control. Content-control encompasses a lot of areas like drop-down lists, text boxes, checkboxes, and even databases. The following is a summary of the steps involved.
Step 1: Show Developer tab. To do this, click on "File" tab > "Options" > "Customize Ribbon". Then under the "Customize Ribbon", select the "Developer" checkbox and click "OK".
Step 2: Open a Word document and you will be able to make the Word document fillable. Go to the "Developer" tab and then "Design Mode", and you can then insert the controls that you want. It could be a text control where users will be able to enter texts, insert a combo or drop-down list, a date picker, or a checkbox.
Step 3: Set or change "Properties" to "Content Control Properties". Here, you can add title, tag, or change the color.
Step 4: You can add protection to the form by using the "Restrict Editing". Open the form then click "Home" > "Select" > "Select All". Then click on "Developer "> "Restrict Editing".
With these steps above, you have created a fillable Word document! If you want to test what you have done before distributing it. You can open the form and fill it out like the user will do and see if it works. You can save it in the end.
How to Make a Fillable PDF in Word?
You want to make a Word document fillable but not editable. The best solution is to create a fillable PDF. However, you can't make a fillable PDF with Microsoft Word only. A PDF editor is a must-have tool to make a PDF fillable. You can create the form and type out the necessary information in Word, then convert the Word document to a fillable PDF with the help of a PDF editor.
How to Make a Word Document A Fillable PDF
Wondershare PDFelement - PDF Editor Wondershare PDFelement Wondershare PDFelement boasts of topnotch features like editing as easy as it is in Word, converting to and from PDF formats, annotating PDFs, digital signature application, redaction, merge and split, and many more. It is a complete PDF solution that provides all the capabilities that you need for your PDF handling.
Step 1. Open a Word document
First, open the form document in PDFelement. Click the + button, select "From File," and choose the Word document.
Step 2. Make the Word Document Fillable
Go to the "Form" tab, there are different kinds of form controls that help you create the fillable PDF form you want, such as "text field," "check box," "radio button," "combo box," "picture," etc. Select the form control you need and drag it to the right location for editing.
Step 3. Preview the Fillable Form
After adding PDF form controls, deselect the "Edit" icon. You can then preview the fillable form.
Step 4. Save the Fillable PDF file
Once done, click the "Save" button to save the file. You can then share the fillable form with anyone you want and collect data easily.
Fillable Word Document vs Fillable PDF
We have seen how to make a Word document fillable but you may also decide to make your PDF document fillable instead of Word. For this reason, it is important to know how it can be done in PDF. For the avoidance of doubt, it is important to state here that PDF is the most popular file format for anyone sharing documents online. It is used by businesses, corporate organizations, government officials, and even individuals.
The advantages of PDF document format are over all other file formats cannot be overemphasized. In the first instance, a lot of people look to use PDF for the very fact that it is the most secure file format. By security, we mean that PDF cannot be easily compromised. This is because there are a lot of options that tend to guarantee the security of PDF. For instance, you can prevent unauthorized use or access to a PDF file. You can do this by putting a password that will lock it out from being accessed unless the person to access it has a password to open it.
PDFs can only be edited through the use of PDF editors. PDFelement is one of such editors that can help take total control of your PDF. PDFelement with respect to its price and features is the perfect alternative to Adobe. This is why many professionals, businesses, and individuals are now patronizing PDFelement. It is easy-to-use software with a user-friendly interface and does not require that the user is technically inclined.
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Free Download or Buy PDFelement right now!
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Margarete Cotty
chief Editor