Creating a “Template” for a form

To create a “Form Template”, we need the “Forms” toolbar.
To open it, choose “View” – “Toolbars” – “Forms” in the menu bar.

We start with a new open “Document”.
We type in the information which always remains the same.
Then we add a variety of fields, which must be completed by users.

We select the field on our document, and click the “Field Options” in the “Forms” toolbar.
In the dialog that opens, we enter a number of options.

Change Field options

Depending on the type of field, you have to choose the options accordingly.
For a text field, we can choose a type of data (standard text, number, date etc.), we can enter a standard text, a maximum length, and determine the layout for our text.
For a checkbox, we give the size and the default value.
For a dropdown list, we give the various entries.
Once you have set options for your field, click the OK button.

Finishing the “Template”

Add Help text
In the “field options”dialog, you will find a button at the bottom: “Add Help text …” (“Add Help text”).
When we click it, we can add help text to the fields in our form.
In the dialog, we find two tabs: “Status” and “F1 key”.
One displays the help text in the status of our “Document”, the other is when we click the F1 key on our keyboard.
In this way we can help the users of our form to the fill information in the right manner.

Remove Shading from fields and secure form.
When you’re done with your form, click the “Shading”.
This removes the gray background of your fields. If you do not do this, these gray backgrounds will appear each time you open the form.
Once you remove the “Shading”, click the “Protect Form” button.
This prevents these from being edited further.
When users open the “Template” later, the cursor is in the first text field.

Save as Template
Now that we have secured the “Document”, we save it as a “Template”.
Click on “File” – “Save As” … the menu bar.
Give the “Document” a name and select from the dropdown menu and type “Document Template” (“Document Template”).
Click on “Save”.

Important: when “Word” lets you choose the folder where it stores the “Template”, the “Template” will appear as a “Template” selection, under the “General” tab.

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