MS Forms repeating data

Question

I am using forms and have a text box that I need to repeat the data in other parts of the form. For example person inputs their name at the beginning of the form and it repeats on other pages. I understand using { reftext1}, but after I input the { } and protect the form. The { } disappear from the rest of the document. The repeating data part work, but I can not see where I placed the { }?

Answer 1

If the { TEXTFORM } field is blank at the time you protect the document, the { REF Text1 } will pick up exactly that information—nothing. However, both fields should display the correct results once you type a name and press Tab in the protected document. Are you able to type the name, press Tab and have the second field update?

If you don't start with an empty field, enter some text as "Default text" in the properties dialog of the

{ TEXTFORM } field, as I did. Then Select All document content (Cmd A), Right-click (or Control-click) on a field and select "Update fields." Now protect the document and save it. In this way, the user will see a placeholder before they begin to type.

If your fields codes and properties are just like in the second and third screenshots shown in my previous post, you should get it to work. Otherwise, please display field codes though Word > Preferences > View > Fields codes and take a screen shot of the fields. Also include the "Text Form Field Options" dialog.

Answer 2

So after I setup the repeating data in the form. I can not see where I placed the {ref text1} at in the document? It makes it very hard to insure I have all of the blanks covered to place the text in.

Answer 3

Make sure the name within the {REF} field ("Text1" in this case) matches the name of the assigned bookmark. Word will assign different names as you insert more fill-in fields.

If you still can't make it work, please display field codes in your document and take a partial screenshot (Cmd Shift 4). Then use the last icon in your reply's toolbar to include it here.

Answer 4

I tried this but could not get it to work. The issue is the 2nd text box. After I set this up and protect the form, I can no longer see the {Ref text1}. It just disappears? If I put 10 of these in a document, I cant see if I have them set up correctly. 

Enter Name {formtext}

Your Name {ref text1}

Your Name {ref text1}

after I protect the document. I get

Enter Name {formtext}

Your Name

Your Name

It updates Your Name, but I have no way to see all of the {ref text1} I put in the form?

Answer 5

Start with the following:

where the first gray area is the text box field, and the second one is a reference field pointing to the just-defined "Text1" bookmark, as follows:

Note the form uses "Calculate on exit" to propagate the results. Once you protect the form, the fill-in area is highlighted:

After typing a name and pressing Tab, the second field is updated (here we remain at the first field because that's the only fillable field in the document):

If Tab is not pressed, Word thinks you did not finish typing and does not update the second field.

For a similar question, see this post.