Tip #35 - Creating Forms in Word - Part 2

100 Computer Tips in 100 Days

Tip #35 - Creating Forms in Word - Part 2

Now that you saw yesterday the power of tabs and a tab leader to create forms for printing, you’re ready to learn how to create a form that people can fill in on their computer without messing up the lines.

The tool we’re going to use is the Table tool. The table tool inserts a grid of rows and columns in your document. By default, when you insert a table the cells have a border around them that will print if you leave it as it is. When we create our form we will remove these borders and just put in bottom borders where we would like information to be inserted.

We’ll start by inserting a two-column table. Click on the Insert tab, Table (Table menu, Insert table in Apple land). A grid will appear. Move to the second box from the left to insert a two-column, one-row table. The cells will be inserted in your document and the cursor will be in the first cell. Type the word “Name” and tap the Tab key twice. The first tap moves you to the second cell, the second tap gives you a new row. Now type the word “Address” and again tap the Tab key twice. In the left cell in third line of the table type “Email”.

Now that we have all of our headings in place, this is a good time to adjust the column widths. Put your mouse on the vertical line that separates the left column from the right column. Hold down your mouse button and drag the line to the left. The left column will get narrower, the right column wider.  Make the column wide enough that the entries in the left column do not wrap. Remember, if you make a mistake you always have undo available (Ctrl + z)

Next we’ll format our table so that there are only lines at the bottom of the cells in the right column. We first have to remove all of the lines. Select the entire table by moving your mouse on the table so that the table selection option appears on the upper left of the table. It is represented by a box with a plus sign in it. Click the table selection option once to select the entire table.

From the Table Tools Design Tab, choose Borders, then No Borders (Table menu, borders in Apple land). Hang in, we’re almost there. Select the cells in the right column only by dragging from the first cell down through the last cell. Then go back to the Borders option and choose Bottom Border. Then back again and choose Inside Horizontal Border. Our borders are all set and the form is ready to be filled in.

OK, so this tip might benefit from a video but with a little practice I think you’ll see how great this is. Look around at other options from the Table Tools Design and Format options to split cells or merge cells.

Happy computing!