Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Undesired Font in Form Fields.
Doug notes that he has a Word form and the form fields are set up as 9-pt Arial. After the form is protected, when the fields are filled in by users they display as 14-pt Arial Bold. He wonders why Word would change the formatting.
Quite honestly, this should not happen. There are a couple of things you should check, however. First, understand that when you insert a form field into a line of text, the form field adopts the formatting of the characters that surround it. Thus, if the field is inserted into a line of text that uses larger characters, then the form field will adopt that larger font. You'll want to explicitly change the formatting of the form field in this manner:
Second, you should check to make sure that someone isn't inadvertently changing the formatting of the form field. For instance, if you insert the field and then format the line on which the field appears, the formatting that you apply to the line affects the field, as well. Thus, if you apply a 14-pt format to the entire line, the 14-pt format will override the 9-pt format you previously applied to the form itself.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (7424) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Undesired Font in Form Fields.
Do More in Less Time! Are you ready to harness the full power of Word 2013 to create professional documents? In this comprehensive guide you'll learn the skills and techniques for efficiently building the documents you need for your professional and your personal life. Check out Word 2013 In Depth today!
You know you want to use form fields in your document (they are essential in creating forms, after all) but you need to ...
Discover MoreIf you have ever created several documents that contain the same basic information with only a few minor differences, ...
Discover MoreWhen adding form fields to a document, you may want some of the fields to be automatically calculated from other fields. ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2019-01-14 09:05:25
Adam
I had this problem and found it was a much simpler issue. I'd ticked 'limit formatting to a selection of styles' thinking that would keep my formatting styles and not allow the user to change them, instead it (obviously) forced all the entered text to be in the document's default format. As soon as I un-ticked that box the problem went away.
2017-06-07 07:29:31
Erna
Hi, I am trying to set up a fillable form in Word. All is going well, but I cannot get the "All Caps" to work in sections of the form. So some parts must be filled in using all CAPS. But I've tried using the "Font tool" setting it as default etc. But it is not working. I've copied the text format as suggested above, but once saved and protected... and sending it, anyone can type however they want, small or capital letters etc.
Can I ensure CAPTAL LETTER INPUT even if the user's Caps is switched off?
Something like that? Please advise?
2015-10-13 11:00:48
Bill
Does anyone know how to prevent the formatting from changing when I change the font in a document? My organization has changed all offical correspondence from Courier New to Times New Roman and when I try to update a document with the new font, it changes all my formatting. MS Word 2013 Please help!
2015-04-23 05:26:07
Sunil Chavan
My organization uses ZurichBT 11 pt, as Corporate font. I have set it in Word 2013. While all other characters appear in ZurichBT 11, for the INR symbol ₹ Word 2013 changes the font to Arial. And from ₹ onwards Word continues font Arial unless I specifically change it back to ZurichBT. Word just does not allow the font ZurichBT for ₹. While in Excel 2013, font remains ZurichBT, once set. Also in Windows 95, Thunderbird, Notepad, LibreOffice suit the ZurichBT font remains for ₹. Please help. Regards,
2014-12-28 11:51:43
Trevor
I have Word 2007 and the unchecking the "Limit formatting..." box worked. Thanks for the initial tip, Allan and the solution, Colin!
2014-11-28 14:56:28
Lori
Best bet is just to make sure that 'Limit Formatting' is not checked when you go in to protect your document. If this is checked, your selected style and font may not appear in the list they provide.
2014-03-20 15:24:48
Dave Heffernan
You can correct this by properly setting the default Style before you protect the document.
2014-01-30 21:10:36
Jason Dove
This tip did not work for legacy fields in 2013.
2013-12-04 13:16:21
Ryan
Thank you Colin. That was driving me crazy! There is no need to check the Limit Formatting box in a Word form! Thanks,
2013-11-06 12:21:45
Ellen
Sorry, neither the tip nor Colin's suggestion worked. My problem is a superscript that reverts to non-superscript when the fields are converted. Worked in W2003. Does not work in W2007.
2013-10-07 11:26:22
Robyn
Colin, THANK YOU!!!! Worked for me too.
2013-08-13 11:58:29
Colin
This was driving me mad. I tried your suggestion but unfortunately it still didn't work. However, running out of things to try after checking various websites, I unchecked the Limit formatting to a selection of styles box in the Protect Document window - my formatting was preserved even after I protected the document!
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2022 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: 
Comments