How to Create a Drop-Down Field in a Word 2010 Form

By Doug Lowe with Ryan C. Williams from "Word 2010 All-in-One For Dummies"

With Word 2010, your forms can include a drop-down field (or two, or three…) that allows users to select from a list of preset choices. The list boxes in a drop-down list are helpful for fields that have only a limited set of correct answers — marital status or shipping instructions, for example.

To create, or insert, a drop-down field, use these steps:

1. Position the insertion point in the template where you want the drop-down list field to appear.

2. In the Controls group of the Developer tab, click Legacy Tools and then click the Drop-Down Form Field button.

A drop-down form field is inserted.

Warning

There’s a similar control in the Controls group, but it doesn’t do the same thing. Be sure to use the control in the Legacy Controls drop-down menu.

Double-click the drop-down form field to see options.

Wiley

3. Double-click the drop-down form field.

The Drop-Down Form Field Options dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 4-9.

4. To add an item to the drop-down list, type some text in the Drop-Down Item box and then click the Add button. Repeat for each item you want to include as a choice.

The text is added to the Items in Drop-Down List field. Keep in mind that the first item in the drop-down list is the default selection — that is, the item initially selected for the field.

5. When you finish adding all the items you want in the list, click OK.