Understanding Forms

Word provides a way that you can create standardized documents rather easily, allowing users to enter only the information that changes from one document to the next. These are called forms. They consist of a protected document template that has special fields inserted within the form. These fields indicate where the user of the form inserts their information. Forms are typically used for documents in which there are only a few items that change in each iteration of the document. For instance, if you have a standard service contract, the only items that may change from one contract to another are the name of the person entering into the contract, the type of services provided, and the amount being charged for those services. Documents such as this are prime candidates for being defined as a form.

To create a form, you basically follow these steps:

1. Create a document containing the text of the form.
2. Insert form fields where you want users to enter data in the form.
3. Format the fields to reflect the type of data you deem allowable in the form.
4. Protect the form.
5. Save the document as a template

Later, when the form is being used, someone creates a new document using your template. They can then only enter information in the fields you have defined. The new document can then be saved under any name desired and later recalled.