Hi everyone,

I am trying to create a template with text boxes in word 2013. To maintain a decent layout for my template, I would like to fix the size of those text boxes, so there would be a de facto size limit as to how much people can type. Unfortunately, that does not seem to work.

As I read several times, I have tried to put these text boxes in a 1x1 size table and limit the size of the table, but that doesn't work. People can still type as much as they want and more importantly, the layout is ruined because of the ever increasing size of the text boxes.

My question is therefore simple and difficult at the same time: can someone help me? I can send you the template to show the problem if you want. Thanks for all the help!

What sort of text box? Text boxes: Insert > Text Box do not grow to accommodate the text. You can type as much as you want but anything more than will fit the box will 'disappear' which should provide a clue.

As for tables if you set the row height to an exact measurement (as opposed to 'at least') and use a fixed cell width the cells won't grow either.

__________________
Graham Mayor - MS MVP (Word) (2002-2019)
Visit my web site for more programming tips and ready made processes www.gmayor.com

Well, I mean a text field in a word template. People have to fill in some questions, so they should not be able to adapt either the questions or the layout. The text fields in which they can type therefore have to remain the same size, and exactly that is the problem. Those 'fill in fields' change size, and this ruins the layout...

Whether you use a legacy form field or a text content control if you put it in a table cell of fixed row height and width, the cell will not grow to accommodate extra data.

__________________
Graham Mayor - MS MVP (Word) (2002-2019)
Visit my web site for more programming tips and ready made processes www.gmayor.com

Generally a table cell is preferable to a text box (Insert > Text Box) because of limitations on how word deals with the contents of text boxes.

I read that everywhere but it doesn't seem to work in my case. Even with fixed row heights (I can't seem to choose fixed width, it only asks 'preferred' width) the table keeps adapting to the text. Whatever I do, I can't seem to create a template in which users cannot change the layout by adding to large texts.

Can I maybe e-mail my current template to someone so they can take a look and try for themselves?

This is what I want (except for the fact that the boxes are not fixed size of course )

The row height must be set to an 'exact' height and not 'at least' the indicated height. Table Tab > Layout > Cell Size (bottom corner arrow dropdown) Row > Size.

Column width is set from Table Tab > Layout > Autofit > Fixed column width.

In both cases the related cells must be selected first.

__________________
Graham Mayor - MS MVP (Word) (2002-2019)
Visit my web site for more programming tips and ready made processes www.gmayor.com

Ok, thank you! I can now fix the table size. The word box in it still changes size, but that's not a big problem since the size limit of the table is fixed so people have to adapt to the table size. Thank you very much for the respons

Since you're using formfields, you can also set a character limit for the input.

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Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]