Forms in MS Word

Factual Questions
1

Perhaps some great mind here in the Dope can help me where so many others (a couple) have failed.

Can anyone provide a MS Word document form that actually works? Cross-platform (PC and Mac) would be a nice bonus.

By works I mean a template that shows up like a typical form: lines on which to write things, checkboxes that aren’t destroyed by typing in them, and most importantly all of the above that doesn’t move around as small amounts, or large amounts, of text are added and edited.

The only technique I have seen that even remotely works is using a complex table. A solution, but hardly an elegant one. Just knowing how to display a line on a page that a user can just click on and start typing would be a great start.

Anyway, I have been frustrated by bad forms all day today. And it isn’t getting any better. Any help would be appreciated.

2

Have you considered PDF forms? The format is intended to solve the exact problem of which you speak.

3

agreed. that would be the best solution. But it isn’t Word-the god of my company. Any solution, no matter how poor, is always better than the alternative if it is in Word. In fairness, PDF forms are harder to edit when editing is needed.
What I think we want is a document that is firm enough to withstand data entry but can be edited by the user when something really needs to be changed. Equipping everyone with Adobe Acrobat isn’t cost-effective.

4

I use a Word form which came from FEMA. Perhaps this is the sort of thing you’re looking for.

On this page there is a link to download the form. It’s in the third blue-shaded block which has an Add to My Bookshelf icon on it. It should say

It can be saved from there.