I need to create a single page form (template?) in Word. There are 2 things I need to do. One is a blank or box or ? where I put in the employee's name. If the name entry box had a prompt or rollover to tell the typist what goes there that would be great. When I enter it there, I want it to repeat itself at about 8 more locations on the same page or subsequent pages.
Then I want 2 drop-down boxes where I list position titles and team colors. These will also propagate to 8 other locations on the same form.


I apologize if I am asking these questions in "Dinosaurus Lex". It is the language of 60 year old Tyrannosaurs like me, with itty-bitty arms that barely reach a keyboard.

Any help here?

I am also over 60.
We need to distinguish between the dropdowns and the ones where you type in a single item.
You need to turn on the Developer Tab if you have not already done so.

The best solution I know of for typing something in one place and having it repeat is the "Document Property Content Control" that you insert using Insert > Quick Parts > Document Property. Scroll down to idea #7 in the following article for "Document Property Content Control" to see how to use this.
Repeating Data (Populating Multiple Like Fields)
This is only good for:

1. Documents that will be used in Word 2007 or later, and
2. Where you need 15 or fewer discrete pieces of information to be repeated.

A drop-down menu of choices adds a separate level of complexity. First, read the entire article, not just the part about document property content controls.
Here is another place for ideas: Making Forms with Microsoft Word


For the dropdown, I recommend using Greg Maxey's utility to insert a Mapped Content Control. There is a lot of programming that goes into that utility, but it spares you the programming and learning XML. Content Control Tools
With it, you can insert a Drop-down list which is mapped to an XML node in your document. If you then copy that content control to another place in the document, it will change in all other copies. (You could do this with the non-dropdown controls, as well.) To use it, you need to place the utility in your Word Startup Folder and look for it under the Add-Ins tab in Word.

Attached are screenshots of the menu to insert the document property content controls and of Greg's Content Control Tools dialog. Again, read the article on repeating data's section on this. The "property" names shown do not have to be what shows up in your document.
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	2010ContentControlTools.png (46.5 KB, 57 views)

Here are two screen shots showing how the mapped controls work using Greg's utility. By the way, the utility is only needed to write the document. It is not needed to use it.

The first screen shot shows the page as the drop-down is being used. The control shows "Steve" in two locations. The second screen shot shows it after the change to "Bill" is made. A change made to any one of these mapped controls is reflected in all copies in the document.
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Because I answer similar questions frequently, I've created a web page summary that may be helpful. Mapped Content Controls and Document Properties