Word fillable forms - Plain text control

Question

Hi all and thank you in advance.

I have completed a number of word fillable forms and am experiencing an issue with Plain Text Controls.

The form consists basically consists of Plain Text Controls, Options buttons and limited drop down lists.

What happens is, when I complete the form (restricted mode) and return to make edits to the plain text I cannot make changes. The control box seems to freeze (not the application) intermittently for no obvious reason. Obviously this is quiet annoying for an end user.

Content Control Properties are default (all unchecked) with the exception of a number which are set to allow carriage returns. I am considering checking the 'Remove content control when contents are edited' but that will require some undesired rework.

Can anyone suggest a fix? Has had a similar issue? Is experiencing issues with Active X controls.

I'd appreciate simple solutions - free of macros/VB.

Chris

Answer 1

Hi

Thank you for posting the thread on our forum.

Based on your description, it seems that when you complete the form (restricted mode) and return to make edits to the plain text I cannot make changes. (If my understanding is incorrect, please feel free to post back)

1. Generally, when using Content Controls, you should no protect the document for filling in forms. Rather, set the Content Controls so that they cannot be deleted. The option to Restrict Editing to Filling in Forms is only intended to be used with Legacy FormFields, NOT with Content Controls. If you want to prevent the layout of a document containing Content Controls from being changed, you should use the Grouping facility in the Controls Section of the Developer tab of the Ribbon.
2. Besides, you can try the following steps to check the result:

• After you have created your form with fillable fields, please follow these steps:
• With your document open in word, choose Tools>Protect Document.
• Check Protect document for.
• Choose Forms. If there are some sections you wish to remain fully editable, click on the Sectionsbutton. Uncheck sections that should remain editable, leave checked sections with form fields.
• Click on OK. The document is protected for filling in forms.

Hope the suggestion can help you. If the problem still persists, please let us know.

If there have any unclear or misunderstanding, please feel free to post back and we’ll continue to help you all the time!

Your understanding and patience will be highly appreciated! Hope you have a good day and keep safe!

Best regards,

Stacey

Answer 2

The bottom line here, which we seem to be reaching in circles, is that forms protection is not appropriate for forms that use content controls. If you have used Review | Protect | Restrict Editing to apply protection as shown below, then you should remove the protection (using the Stop Protection button at the bottom of the Restrict Editing pane). If you want users to be unable to modify text outside the content controls, you can apply a group control over the entire document, but it does not sound like that's what you want.

Answer 3

Hi

Thank you for your quick response and we also appreciate that you spent your precious time doing these tests and provided the detailed information to us.

Generally, the group controls option can let users are restricted to editing only the content control content and tips for navigating between the controls in a document. You can group them both individually and grouping them as one, depends on how you want to group it.

About my suggestion in above reply, if you have some confused about them, maybe the Word version we're using is different, so please switch to this and we can focus on other methods.

We did a test in our end and followed the same steps as yours, we find if we check the box Content cannot be edited, the content box would freeze and not allow edits after content completed when retuning to edit that same content, so please open the file >Highlight your new form field and then click on Properties, directly below the Design Mode button>to check if you have checked the box Content cannot be edited under Locking tab

Meanwhile, can you tell us if all your documents have this problem or just a specific file have this problem?

Can you tell us your Word product information so that we can do a further test in our end to find the root cause? Click File>Account then gives us a screenshot.

Hope the information can help you, if you need any further assistance, please feel free to post back.

Really appreciate your patience and understanding!

Best regards,

Stacey

Answer 4

Stacy,

Bank holiday weekend here, hence the delay with response.

The reason for the post was principally because of performance issues with the document form (restricted).

Content could be completed ok, but when retuning to edit that same content, the content box would freeze and not allow edits.

This was an intermittent behavior and cause an issue for end users.

I am grateful for your response and would seek some clarification:

On your comment references:

1.

I found little on-line explaining the Grouping option in the Developer ribbon. What is it's function? What are the benefits to using this? I have multiple tables in my document (all with content controls), should I group them individually over grouping them as one?

2.

• I am not using Sections within the document.
• You mention Tools-Protect Document - I do not see this in any tab and can only assume this is off older versions of word. If it is off older versions and Restrict Editing is the replacement then your comment "The option to Restrict Editing to Filling in Forms is only intended to be used with Legacy FormFields, NOT with Content Controls" is confusing. Can you confirm that please?

If I complete the document to your recommendations, do you thing the performance will improve?

Your assistance is much appreciated.

Chris

Answer 5

Stacey,

Thanks very much for the informative reply, it's much appreciated.

I will certainly take this on and revert.

Chris