How to Edit Word Document Forms

1. Get into the form. Forms are created to have only certain parts of them open to being edited if you do not have the correct permissions. This may mean you need to be signed in as the original developer or get a password from that person in order to edit the form.
2. Save a copy. Before you change anything, make sure you keep a version of the original to compare to. This also helps in the event the edits do not work out and you need to go back to the original so you can start over.
3. Locate your tools. In Word 2003/2004, click on "View," select "Toolbars," then "Forms." This will enable your Forms Toolbar so you can do your edits. In Word 2007, you can only edit forms if you have the Developer tab enabled. In order to get the Developer tab, click on the giant "Office" button in the upper-left corner, then open up "Word options." On the left size of the menu, click on "Popular." Under "Popular," check the box to "enable the Developer tab," then "OK" to exit the menu. You will now see the Developer tab among the other hands on your main toolbar.
4. Edit the instructions/explanations. You want to make the changes to the instructions first because it will be simpler to edit the changeable portions, if you have the instructions or explanations of them already fixed to what they should be.
5. Edit interactive sections. These are things like your drop down menus, check boxes, and text fields. Once you have made your changes to these fields, for any place where the person can enter text, be certain to check whether or not the information entered will disappear.
6. Save and set your form protection. If you are setting this up to be edited by another person, such as a member of a work group, you may want to leave the form unprotected. However, if this is the final project, you will want to make sure you set the form protection to insure no one can change things they should not. In Word 2007, this would mean going to "Protect Document," then "Restrict Formatting and Editing," and then selecting how strong you want your restrictions to be. The Filling in Forms option will allow the person to only interact with the sections designated for that, such as your drop down menus and text boxes. In Word 2003/2004, you will see the small lock on your Forms toolbar. This is how you access document protection.