This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(236.8, 83%, 32%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EMS%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
My company is using MS Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 - Word version 2108 (Build 14334.20136)
I am trying to update a MS Word document using Developer menu to provide a drop-down list of options to select. When trying to add a drop down list the default wording is showing up as "Click or tap to enter a date". It should be "Choose an item".
I tried utilizing the properties box to change the title and modify the display name. Even though I entered "Choose and item", it still shows "Click or tap to enter a date".
I then tried to go into design mode and manually changed the text.
When I close out of design mode the text reverts back to "Click or tap to enter a date".
The "enter a date" placeholder text should appear only if you've inserted a date picker content control. When I do that, I can change the placeholder text to "Choose an item", but the control continues to function as a date picker. I'll assume then that you did insert a dropdown content control but you're getting the wrong placeholder and that it refuses to accept your change.
Word doesn't use a separate file other than the main program to supply content controls and their default placeholders. The most likely fix is a repair or reinstallation of Office, but that assumes that the problem isn't caused by a bug in the early-July update of LTSC. Do other users in your company have the same problem? Do you have an IT group that can help?
Try doing an online repair of Word and Office.
https://support.office.com/article/7821d4b6-7c1d-4205-aa0e-a6b40c5bb88b
The Click or tap to enter a date prompt normally only occurs when you have created a Date Picker Content Control. If that's what you have created, you won't be able to repurpose it to become a dropdown.
Try deleting the content control and inserting a new dropdown control. By default, they display Choose an item.
I agree it normally only occurs when I have created a Date Picker Content Control and it has worked that way in the past for me.
I did try creating a brand new field using only the Drop-down control but it still says to enter a date.
I agree it normally only occurs when I have created a Date Picker Content Control and it has worked that way in the past for me.
I did try creating a brand new field using only the Drop-down control but it still says to enter a date.
That sounds like your Word installation has an error in it. Please try an Office Repair. The Online Repair option is more thorough.
Tech guy just showed me that if I copy an existing drown-down list it will show the "Choose an item". I just cannot insert a new one using the Developer tool bar in this specific MS Doc I am using.