How do I add a drop down menu function to cells in a table in word?

Question

I'm creating a new word template. There is a table in it where rows are numbered, and relate to one of a small list of categories. I'd like to format the second column as a drop down menu for ease of use.

Any guidance?

Answer 1

Insert a Dropdown List Content Control in each cell of the column and add the list of categories to it.

• If you don't have the Developer tab displayed in your copy of desktop Word, go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon and add it.
• Click in the first cell of the column.
• On the Developer tab, click the Drop-Down List Content Control button to insert a control in the cell.

• Enter a title for the control (this will appear above the control when it's selected) and/or a Tag value (this is invisible to the user but can be used by macros to access the control).

• If you don't want users to be able to enter a category that doesn't appear in the list, check the box for "Contents cannot be edited".
• Click the Add button and enter a display name (this will appear in the dropdown). The Value box will default to the same text as the display name, but you can change it if you want -- the value will be accessible to macros for calculations if necessary. Repeat this step for each additional category.
• When the list is complete, click OK.
• If the lists in all the cells of the column should be the same, you can copy the first one and paste it into the other cells; or you can supply a different list for some or all of the other cells.

Answer 2

You can add a Drop Down List Content Control from the Developer tab of the Ribbon.

If the Developer tab is not visible, choose File>Options>Customize Ribbon, then check Developer in the right-hand list of Main Tabs. OK out and it will appear.

Here is Microsoft's page on Content Controls with more information about how to use them: Content controls in Word