How to Add Help Text to a Word Template

1. Open a new or existing template in Microsoft Word.
2. Click the 'Office' button, and select 'Word Options.' Go to the 'Popular' tab in the 'Word Options' window. Check 'Show Developer tab in the Ribbon,' and press 'OK.'
3. Click the 'Developer' tab, and go to the 'Controls' group.
4. Click the 'Design Mode' button. Double-click the form element ('Text,' 'Combo Box' or 'Drop-Down List' button) you want to add to your page.
5. Type your help text into the form element on your page.
6. Click the 'Properties' button in the 'Controls' group to remove the help text once an entry is made. The 'Control Content Properties' dialog box appears.
7. Go to the 'Plain Text Properties' section, and check 'Remove content control when contents are edited.' Click 'OK' to return to the template.
8. Click the 'Design Mode' button in the 'Controls' group to disable it.
9. Click the 'Developer' tab. Select 'Protect Document' and 'Restrict Formatting and Editing.' Go to the 'Editing restrictions' section in the 'Restrict Formatting and Editing' task pane, and select 'Filling in forms' from the drop-down list.
10. Click 'Yes, Start Enforcing Protection.' The 'Start Enforcing Protection' dialog box opens. Add and re-enter the password you want to use for the form, and click 'OK.'
11. Click the 'Office' button. Select 'Save As' and 'Word Template' in the 'Save As' dialog box. Name the template, and click 'Save.'