Show Text and Text Fields Based on Dropdown Selection in Word

Question

I have created a template with Legacy Forms controls and I have a dropdown named Status with two choices: Denied and Approved.

If Denied is chosen from the dropdown Status, I would like to have the following text appear with a text form field:

Reason for denial: [Text Form Field named Reason]

If Approved is chosen from the dropdown Status, I would like to have the following text appear with these text form fields:

Monthly allotment: [Text Form Field named Allotment (this is a number field with calculate on exit checked)] / days in month: [Text Form Field named Days (this is a number field with calculate on exit checked)] = daily issuance amount: [Text Form Field named Amount (this is a calculation field with the expression of = Allotment/Days (this is a number field with calculate on exit checked)].

Note: I used [ ] to indicate the text field.

I would need to have the form stay locked/protected so the user could tab into and enter information in the form fields that appear when Denied or Approved is chosen.

Is this possible? If so, the coding to make this happen would be appreciated.

Thank you, Jamie

Answer 1

I would insert both pieces of text into the document and have one inside a bookmark Denied and the other inside a bookmark Approved

Then in a macro run on exit from the Status DropDown Formfield have the following code

Sub StatusExit()

With ActiveDocument

If .FormFields("Status").DropDown.Value = "Approved" Then 

    .Unprotect 

    .Bookmarks("Approved").Range.Font.Hidden = False 

    .Bookmarks("Denied").Range.Font.Hidden = True 

    .Protect wdAllowOnlyFormFields, True 

Else 

    .Unprotect 

    .Bookmarks("Approved").Range.Font.Hidden = True 

    .Bookmarks("Denied").Range.Font.Hidden = False 

    .Protect wdAllowOnlyFormFields, True 

End If 

End With

End Sub

Answer 2

If you send me a copy of the document, referencing this thread in the covering email message, I will investigate the issue.

Answer 3

You may be better off with a UserForm.

• Create a Simple Userform by Graham Mayor, MVP
• Create & Employ a Userform by Greg Maxey

Answer 4

Hi Doug, I have sent you the document.

Thanks, Jamie

Answer 5

Hi Doug, thank you for your response. I read it a couple of times and I’m not sure I’m doing this right, so bear with me.

You said insert both pieces of text into the document and have one inside a bookmark Denied and the other inside a bookmark Approved.

So I highlighted the Denied text and formfield, clicked on Insert, Bookmark and named it Denied. I highlighted the Approved text and formfields and named that Bookmark Approved.

Then I entered the coding you provided and made it an on exit macro on the Status dropdown formfield.

I protected the document and tested this and when I tab out of the Status dropdown, regardless of whether I choose Denied or Approved, I receive the following error message – Type mismatch.

I’m afraid I need further help with this as I don’t understand what that error message means.