Can't reset form fields (Word 2013) and conditional formatting

rogelinepaula · #1 10-14-2015, 11:49 PM

Hello everyone!

I have a survey and the answers are all in a drop-down form. The survey will be filled out by several respondents and I'd like the options to be reset each time. I've seen the Reset Form Fields eraser icon under Legacy Forms but when I clicked on it, nothing happened.

Also, how do I know if my document is protected or unprotected?

Thank you in advance.

gmayor · #2 10-15-2015, 12:39 AM

Save the empty form as a template and create new documents fom it. The new documents will always be cleared of data and there will be no danger of inadvertently saving over wanted data.

The document protection is on the developer tab of the ribbon. You may need to enable the developer tab from the built-in ribbon editor.

rogelinepaula · #3 10-15-2015, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmayor

Save the empty form as a template and create new documents fom it. The new documents will always be cleared of data and there will be no danger of inadvertently saving over wanted data.

The document protection is on the developer tab of the ribbon. You may need to enable the developer tab from the built-in ribbon editor.

Thank you for your help--it worked! Is there also a way for conditional formatting to work on MS Word? For example the choices on the drop-down list are Unknown, Yes and No. Is there a way to make the selection Red if it's Unknown, Yellow for No and Green for Yes? Or can it only be done on Excel?

macropod · #4 10-15-2015, 02:49 AM

For some conditional formatting code, see: https://www.msofficeforums.com/word-...html#post47254

rogelinepaula · #5 10-15-2015, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmayor

Save the empty form as a template and create new documents fom it. The new documents will always be cleared of data and there will be no danger of inadvertently saving over wanted data.

The document protection is on the developer tab of the ribbon. You may need to enable the developer tab from the built-in ribbon editor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by macropod

For some conditional formatting code, see: https://www.msofficeforums.com/word-...html#post47254

Thank you! Will this apply to a series of more than 30 drop-down list? The survey has 10 categories with questions varying from 1-5, 1-10, 1-20...etc. The answers in the drop-drown box will also differ and will not stay as Unknown, Yes or No.

macropod · #6 10-15-2015, 03:49 AM

As coded, the macro in the link is for just a single table cell. To work with multiple dropdowns, you could use code like:

Code:

Dim lTbl As Long, lRow As Long, lCol As Long, lClr As Long
Const StrPwd As String = ""
 
Sub ConditionalFormat()
With ActiveDocument
  If .ProtectionType = wdAllowOnlyFormFields Then .Unprotect , StrPwd
  .Tables(lTbl).Cell(lRow, lCol).Range.Shading.BackgroundPatternColor = lClr
  .Protect wdAllowOnlyFormFields, True, NoReset:=True, Password:=StrPwd
End With
End Sub

called by an on-exit macro attached to each formfield coded along the lines of:

Code:

Sub DD1Fmt()
With ActiveDocument.FormFields("Dropdown1")
  lTbl = ActiveDocument.Range(0, .Range.End).Tables.Count
  lRow = .Range.Cells(1).RowIndex
  lCol = .Range.Cells(1).ColumnIndex
  Select Case .Result
    Case "Unknown": lClr = wdColorPink
    Case "Yes": lClr = wdColorLightBlue
    Case "No": lClr = wdColorBrightGreen
    Case Else: lClr = wdColorYellow
  End Select
  Call ConditionalFormat
End With
End Sub

Simply change this latter sub's name and dropdown reference for each calling dropdown.

rogelinepaula · #7 10-15-2015, 04:12 AM

Just to verify, I will be pasting both codes right? And this is each time I will be editing a drop-down list? And also for the StrPwd "", am I the one to set that password? If so, where? Sorry I am really confused and thank you so much for all your help and patience.

Charles Kenyon · #8 10-15-2015, 04:29 AM

You set the password, if you wish one, when you protect the document for forms. You would need to set it in the code before you protect the document.

For more on the developer tab, see Developer Tab.

macropod · #9 10-15-2015, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogelinepaula

Just to verify, I will be pasting both codes right?

Yes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogelinepaula

And this is each time I will be editing a drop-down list?

No. It's only the second sub that would be replicated. You would need to change its name (e.g. from DD1 to DD2) and the name of the Dropdown in references (e.g. from Dropdown1 to Dropdown2).

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogelinepaula

And also for the StrPwd "", am I the one to set that password? If so, where?

Unless you apply forms passwording to the document, you can leave in blank; otherwise, give it the same name as the password you apply in the document.

rogelinepaula · #10 10-15-2015, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macropod

Yes.

No. It's only the second sub that would be replicated. You would need to change its name (e.g. from DD1 to DD2) and the name of the Dropdown in references (e.g. from Dropdown1 to Dropdown2).

Unless you apply forms passwording to the document, you can leave in blank; otherwise, give it the same name as the password you apply in the document.

Thank you--whenever I click on the Drop-down form field from the Legacy, it's not showing the arrow at all that you will click to show the options. Where do I also change the name of the Dropdown in the document or in VBA? I can only see the Bookmark field on the Properties section of the form.

macropod · #11 10-15-2015, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogelinepaula

Thank you--whenever I click on the Drop-down form field from the Legacy, it's not showing the arrow at all that you will click to show the options.

I don't know what arrow you're referring to. Right-clicking then choosing 'Properties', or choosing 'Properties' from the Developer tab will both open up the formfield properties dialogue.

Quote:

Where do I also change the name of the Dropdown in the document or in VBA? I can only see the Bookmark field on the Properties section of the form.

It needs to be the same in both. Word automatically assigns names like Dropdown1, Dropdown2, etc., so you can use those in the VBA.

rogelinepaula · #12 10-15-2015, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macropod

I don't know what arrow you're referring to. Right-clicking then choosing 'Properties', or choosing 'Properties' from the Developer tab will both open up the formfield properties dialogue.

It needs to be the same in both. Word automatically assigns names like Dropdown1, Dropdown2, etc., so you can use those in the VBA.

Yes I right-click on the Legacy Drop-down so that I can add the items/choices. But after setting it all up including the bookmark, I am only seeing the first option I have entered and the rest can't be seen because there is no drop-down arrow.

macropod · #13 10-15-2015, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogelinepaula

But after setting it all up including the bookmark, I am only seeing the first option I have entered and the rest can't be seen because there is no drop-down arrow.

That's because there isn't one. A formfield only ever has the bookmark you (or Word) give it - you can't choose an existing bookmark that's been assigned somewhere else.

rogelinepaula · #14 10-15-2015, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macropod

That's because there isn't one. A formfield only ever has the bookmark you (or Word) give it - you can't choose an existing bookmark that's been assigned somewhere else.

But how do I make it as a drop-down list when it won't show the options I'll be providing? This is not the content control I am using but the one from the Legacy Tools.

macropod · #15 10-15-2015, 05:19 PM

All you need do is apply the 'filling in forms' editing restrictions. Once you do that the dropdown becomes active.

That said, if your other questions have dropdown content controls, you really should stick to one kind of control - formfields and content controls don't work well together. Unlike formfields, content controls don't require the 'filling in forms' editing restrictions to work. And, since you'll need macros for what you want to do, you could just as well use content controls throughout. In some respects, that would make coding for the conditional formatting simpler, too.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Macro to keep formatted form fields after mail merge or replace text with formatted form fields	jer85	Word VBA	2	04-05-2015 10:00 PM
Reinstalling Office 2013 after factory reset	barryd	Office	1	05-17-2013 04:24 PM
Form Fields in Word	jwm1346	Word	1	04-17-2012 07:02 PM
Preventing Form Fields to Reset	PosseJohn	Word VBA	4	07-15-2011 09:44 PM
Form fields in Word messed up	mba	Word VBA	0	02-07-2010 09:54 PM