First, you need to customize Word’s ribbon and enable the “Developer” tab to show the option to add check boxes. Then, select “Developer” and click the “Check Box Content Control” button to insert a check box into your document. You can also transform Word’s bullets into checkboxes.
When you create surveys or forms with Microsoft Word, check boxes make the options easier to read and answer. We’re covering two good options for doing just that. The first is ideal for documents that you want people to fill out digitally within the Word document itself. The second option is easier if you’re planning to print documents like to-do lists.
Option 1: Use Word’s Developer Tools to Add the Check Box Option for Forms
In order to create fillable forms that include checkboxes, you first need to enable the “Developer” tab on the Ribbon. With a Word document open, click the “File” drop-down menu and then choose the “Options” command. In the “Word Options” window, switch to the “Customize Ribbon” tab. On the right-hand “Customize the Ribbon” list, select “Main Tabs” on the dropdown menu.
On the list of available main tabs, select the “Developer” check box, and then click the “OK” button
Notice that the “Developer” tab is added to your Ribbon. Just position your cursor in the document where you want a check box, switch to the “Developer” tab, and then click the “Check Box Content Control” button.
You should see a check box appear wherever you placed your cursor. Here, we’ve gone ahead and placed a check box next to each answer and, as you can see, those check boxes are interactive. Click a box to mark it with an “X” (as we’ve done for answers 2, 3, and 4) or select the whole form box (as we’ve done for answer 4) to move the check box around, format it, and so on.
RELATED: How to Create a Fillable Form With Microsoft Word
Option 2: Change Bullets to Check Boxes for Printed Documents
If you’re creating a document to print out—like a to-do list or printed survey—and just want check boxes on it, you don’t have to mess around with adding Ribbon tabs and using forms. Instead, you can create a simple bullet list and then change the bullets from the default symbol to check boxes.
In your Word document, on the “Home” tab, click the small arrow to the right of the “Bullet List” button. On the dropdown menu, select the “Define new bullet” command.
In the “Define New Bullet” window, click the “Symbol” button.
In the “Symbol” window, click the “Font” dropdown and choose the “Wingdings 2” option.
You can scroll through the symbols to find the empty square symbol that looks like a check box, or you just type the number “163” into the “Character Code” box to automatically select it. Of course, if you see a symbol you like better—like the open circle (symbol 153)—feel free to choose that instead.
When you’ve selected your symbol, click the “OK” button to close the “Symbol” window, and then click the “OK” button to close the “Define New Bullet” window, too.
Back in your Word document, you can now type your bullet list. The check boxes appear instead of the regular bullet symbol.
And the next time you need the check box symbol, you don’t have to navigate through that whole set of windows. Just click that small arrow to the right of the “Bullet List” button again, and you’ll see the checkbox listed under the “Recently Used Bullets” section.
Again, this method is really only useful for documents you want to print out. The check box symbols are not interactive, so you can’t check them off inside a Word document.
If you’re also creating spreadsheets and presentations, you may want to learn how to insert checkboxes in Excel and add checkboxes to PowerPoint too.
RELATED: How to Add a Check Mark or Tick Mark in Word
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- › How to Add a Drop-Down List to a Word Document
- › How to Create a Fillable Form With Microsoft Word
- › How to Create a Basic Survey in Microsoft Word
- › How to Count Checkboxes in Microsoft Excel
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A text box is an element you can insert and position anywhere in a document. Text boxes are great for calling special attention to a quote or a whole block of text.
Insert a Text Box
- Click the Insert tab.
- Expand the Text group, if necessary.
- Click the Text Box button.
- Select the text box you’d like to use.
- Click the text box and type to replace the placeholder text.
A gallery of text box styles appears. The styles range from simple text boxes to stylized sidebars.
The text box is automatically inserted.
The placeholder text disappears as soon as you start typing.
Text boxes can be sized, moved, arranged, and styled just like shapes and pictures.
Draw Text Boxes
You don’t have to use one of Word’s built-in text boxes; you can create one from scratch.
- From the Insert tab, expand the Text group, if necessary.
- Click the Text Box button.
- Select Draw Text Box.
- Click and drag in your document to create the text box.
The pointer changes to a crosshair, indicating that you can draw the text box.
The text box is inserted.
Link Text Boxes
Linking text boxes allows text to flow between them. For example, you could make the text of a long article flow through several smaller text boxes in a more advanced layout.
- After you have created two or more text boxes, select the first one.
- Click the Format tab in the Drawing Tools ribbon group.
- Click Create Link from the Text group.
- Click the second text box with the new cursor.
- Switch back to the first text box and type into it.
The second text box must be empty, so make sure to remove any text in it before proceeding.
The cursor changes into a tiny pitcher full of letters. Moving the cursor over the second text box reveals that you can “pour” additional text into it.
The two text boxes are linked. Now, once enough text is entered into the first text box, it will automatically overflow into the second.
You can format the text in a text box just as you would any other text by using the Font and Paragraph groups on the Home tab.
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To make the content of your document more intuitive and lively, adding symbols like tick, cross, check box, etc. is an effective method. But what’s the fastest way to insert them? Sure you can copy and paste from Internet If it’s a one-time thing. Otherwise you’d probably better to enter them in Word directly.
1. Insert Symbol
Like the way to add other special symbols in Word, you can click Symbol and choose More Symbols… in Insert tab.
Change the Font in Symbols tab to Wingdings 2.
Then you can find these symbols in the list below. Just click any of them (as you like) and hit Insert to add it.
2. Shortcuts
This is the most simple way, which only requires you to change the font of Word and using keyboard shortcuts.
First, select Wingdings 2 in the drop-down list of font.
Then you can press Shift and several different letters to insert different symbols. Here I collected symbols with the corresponding shortcuts:
Addition to tick mark, cross mark and check box, you can also insert some other symbols with shortcuts in the font of Wingdings 2. Have a try when you have time!
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A text box is an object you can add to your document that lets you put and type text anywhere in your file. Text boxes can be useful for drawing attention to specific text and can also be helpful when you need to move text around in your document.
Add a text box
-
Place cursor where you want the text box to appear.
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Go to Insert and in Illustrations select Drawing.
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Select Text Box and use your cursor to create the text box.
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Insert text in box and apply any styling needed.
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Select Save andClose.
If you aren’t using a mouse
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Press Alt + Period (.) and then press N.
-
Then press D to select drawings.
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Press Alt + Period (.) and then press N.
-
Type the text that you want.
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Press the Esc key 3 times.
-
Press Enter to save textbox.
Notes:
-
To format the text in the text box, select the text, and then use the formatting options in the Font group on the Home tab.
-
To format the text box itself, use the commands on the Shape Format contextual tab that appears when you select a text box.
-
To position the text box, select it, and then when the pointer becomes a four-headed arrow, drag the text box to a new location.
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You can also change or remove a border from a text box or shape.
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If you have multiple text boxes, you can link them together so that text will flow from one box to another. Select one of the text boxes and on the Shape Format tab, select Create Link.
-
Editing in a text box
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Double click the textbox.
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In Drawing (Preview), select the textbox to place your cursor and edit text.
-
When finished select Save and Close to view updated text box.
Copy a text box
-
Select the border of the text box that you want to copy.
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Press Ctrl+C.
Note: Make sure the pointer is on the border of the text box, not inside it. If the pointer is inside, pressing Ctrl+C will copy the text, not the text box.
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Select a location and press Ctrl+V to paste the text box.
Delete a text box
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Select the border of the text box that you want to delete, and then press Delete.
Note: Make sure the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside it. If the pointer is inside the box, pressing Delete will delete the text inside the text box, not the box.
Add a text box
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Go to Insert > Text Box, and then select Draw Text Box.
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Click or tap in the document, and drag to draw the text box the size that you want.
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To add text to a text box, select inside the text box, and then type or paste text.
Notes:
-
To format the text in the text box, select the text, and then use the formatting options in the Font group on the Home tab.
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To format the text box itself, use the commands on the Format contextual tab, which appears under Drawing Tools when you select a text box.
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To position the text box, select it, and then when the pointer becomes a , drag the text box to a new location.
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You can also change or remove a border from a text box or shape.
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If you have multiple text boxes, you can link them together so that text will flow from one box to another. Select one of the text boxes and on the Format tab, under Drawing Tools, and then select Create Link.
-
Copy a text box
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Select the border of the text box that you want to copy.
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Go to Home > Copy .
Make sure that the pointer is not inside the text box, but rather on the border of the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, pressing Copy will copy the text inside the text box and not the text box.
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Go to Home and select Paste.
Delete a text box
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Select the border of the text box and then press DELETE.
Make sure that the pointer is not inside the text box, but rather on the border of the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, pressing DELETE will delete the text inside the text box instead.
Add a text box
-
Go to Insert > Text Box and then select either Draw Text Box (where the text aligns horizontally on the page) or Vertical Text Box (where the text aligns vertically on the page).
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Select in the document, and then drag to draw the text box the size that you want.
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To add text to a text box, click or tap inside the text box, and then type or paste text.
-
To format the text in the text box, select it, and then Control + Click the text and select Font.
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To add different effects to the text box, select the text box, and use the options on the Shape Format tab (such as changing the text direction or aligning the text at the top, middle or bottom of the text box).
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To position the text box, select and hold it, and then when the pointer becomes a , drag the text box to a new location.
-
Note: If you have drawn multiple text boxes, you can link them together so that text will flow from one box to another. You can only link an empty text box to the one that you’ve selected. To do this, select the text box that you want to link to another text box, and then go to Shape Format > Create Link.
Copy a text box
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Select the text box you want to copy.
Make sure that the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, the text inside the text box is copied.
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Press Control + Click, and then select Copy. Or, press + C.
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Select the location in your document where you want to paste the text box, press Control + Click, and then select Paste. Or, press + V.
Remove a text box
-
Select the border of the text box that you want to delete, and then press DELETE.
Make sure that the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, pressing DELETE will delete the text inside the text box.
Add a text box
-
Go to Insert > Text Box.
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Click in your file where you’d like to insert the text box, hold your mouse button down, then drag to draw the text box the size that you want.
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After you’ve drawn the text box click inside it to add text.
Copy a text box
-
Select the text box you want to copy.
Make sure that the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, the text inside the text box is copied.
-
Press Control + Click, and then select Copy. Or, press + C.
-
Select the location in your document where you want to paste the text box, press Control + Click, and then select Paste. Or, press + V.
Remove a text box
-
Select the border of the text box that you want to delete, and then press DELETE.
Make sure that the pointer is on the border of the text box and not inside the text box. If the pointer is not on the border, pressing DELETE will delete the text inside the text box.
Need more help?
In Microsoft Word, the user can create the text boxes in several built-in styles, predefined Textboxes offered in Word. If any of the built-in styles do not meet the user’s, interest there is a feature in Word that allows the user to draw the text box. There is an option where you can get more textboxes from Office.com and can save the selection to the text box gallery.
In this tutorial, we will explain:
- How to insert a Built-in Styles Text Box.
- How to insert text into Text Box.
- How to copy the Text Box to a new location.
- How to change the direction of text in the selected Text Box.
- How to Format the Text Box.
- How to change the default formatting for a Text Box.
- How to save a selected Text Box as a Building Block.
What is Text Box in Microsoft Word
A Text Box is a feature in Word that focuses on its content and displays essential text such as headings and quotes.
1] How to insert a Built-in Styles Text Box
Click the Insert tab on the menu bar.
On the Insert tab in the Text group, click the drop-down arrow of the Text Box button.
You will see a list of text box built-in styles you can choose from; select the one you desire.
The text box you selected will appear in the document.
You can use More Text Boxes from Office.com to insert text boxes in the document.
In the Text Box drop-down list, you can also select Draw Text Box and draw a text box into the document.
The other option to insert a Built-in Style text box is to your document is to click on the Explore Quick Parts button.
In the drop-down list, select Building Blocks Organizer.
A Building Blocks Organizer dialog box will appear.
In the dialog box, scroll down until you see the text box gallery.
Click any text box of your choice and click Insert.
The text box is inserted into the document.
2] How to insert text into Text Box
For a built-in style text box, click into the text box and press the Delete Key to delete the default text inside it and type your text.
For the text box you draw, click inside the text box and enter your text.
3] How to copy the Text Box to a new location
Place the cursor near the text box’s frame, hold the CTRL-key down, and drag the textbox.
You will notice that the text box is copied.
4] How to change the direction of text in the selected Text Box
Go to the Shape Format tab.
On the Shape Format tab in the Text group, click Text Direction.
In the drop-down list, choose the direction you want the text to be in the text box.
5] How to Format the Text Box
Click on the text box on the Shape Format tab in the Shape Styles group. You can choose the built-in styles you like.
You can format the text box by selecting Shape Fill, Shape Outline, and Shape Effects.
6] How to change the default formatting for a Text Box
Right-click a formatted text box border and select Set as Default Text Box.
7] How to save a selected Text Box as a Building Block
Go on the Insert tab in the Text group and select the Text Box button.
In the drop-down list, select Save Selection to Text Box Gallery.
A Create New Building Block dialog box will appear, enter a name, select a category, or any changes you wish to make in the dialog box.
Click Ok.
If you want to see if the textbox you save is in the Building Block, click the Explore Quick Parts button in the Text group.
In the drop-down list, select Building Block Organizer.
A Building Blocks Organizer dialog box will appear; Scroll down until you see the name of the text box you name.
I hope this helps; if you have questions, please comment below.
Read next: How to print hidden text in Word on Windows and Mac.
Tick symbol (🗸) also known as a check mark is a symbol for “Yes”. Sometimes tick in a box (☑) is preferred over tick symbol to denote yes or completion. In this blog we have covered, four different ways to insert tick and tick in box symbol in Microsoft Word.
Place your cursor where you want to insert the symbol and use any of the following 4 methods. Method 4 is easiest and up to 7 times faster.
Method 1 – Insert > Symbols
- Navigating Insert Tab > Symbols and select More Symbols
2. Select Symbol Tab > Wingdings Font, and double click on desired symbol i.e. 🗸 or ☑.
3. Select Close
Method 2 – Alt Code (Requires dedicated Number pad keys)
Ms Word Alt code for Tick (or Check) Mark and Tick in Box are:
Tick Symbol or Check Mark (🗸) | Tick in Box (☑) |
---|---|
128504 | 128505 |
To insert symbol, type corresponding Alt Code using Number pad (not using numerics key using above letters) while holding down Alt key.
Method 3 – Autocorrect (Fastest method for Tick Symbol Word)
- Create Autocorrect entry
- Locate Tick Symbol or Tick in Box symbol (as shown in Method 1) by navigating to Insert > Symbols > More Symbols and select symbol.
- Click Autocorrect Button to open new AutoCorrect Dialogue box.
- Type desired shortcut text (say tick or checkbox) in Replace.
- Click Add.
- Close Autocorrect and Symbol Window.
2. Type autocorrect text created in above step and press space (for e.g. tick) to convert into corresponding symbol.
Method 4 – Alt X
Alt X code for Tick (or Check) Mark & Tick in Box are
Tick Symbol or Check Mark (🗸) | Tick in Box (☑) |
---|---|
1F5F8 | 1F5F9 |
To insert thick (or check) mark, type 1F5F8 and press Alt + X immediately following it. Similarly, for inserting tick in box, type 1F5F8 and press Alt + X.
Summary
There are four different methods to insert tick symbol in Ms Word. Of all, Alt X and Alt Code method requires remembering 4-5 digit code. While, the Insert Symbol and Autocorrect method are straightforward and relatively easy to remember. Of all these, the smartest way to insert tick symbol or tick in box is Autocorrect method as it is fastest and easy to remember.
Related Posts
If you want to get creative with your text or simply have more flexibility, consider adding a customizing a text box in Word.
If you want more flexibility with certain text in your Word document, why not use a text box? Since a text box is considered an object, you can move it wherever you like in your document. This is handy for placing text in areas you normally wouldn’t.
You can use a text box to call attention to something in your document, rotate snippets of text, or create a unique appearance. Microsoft Word also provides formatting options for text boxes that give them their own nifty style or useful function.
Here, we’ll show you how to add or draw a text box and then format it to your liking in Microsoft Word.
With Word on Windows, you can either insert a preformatted text box or draw one of your own. Either way, you can customize it afterward, so choose the best option for you.
Go to the spot in your document where you want the text box and select the Insert tab. Click the Text Box drop-down arrow and pick a Built-In style or Draw a Text Box.
If you’re using Word on Mac, go to the Insert tab, click the Text drop-down arrow, and then the Text Box arrow. You can then choose to draw a simple text box or one where the text inside is vertical.
To draw your text box on either platform, drag the crosshairs to create the size you want. You can resize the text box any time after you draw it too.
When your text box appears, click inside to add your own words.
Format and Customize a Text Box in Word
Once you insert or draw your text box, select it and go to the Shape Format tab to view all of your formatting options. You’ll find the following features in Word on Windows, which may differ slightly in Word on Mac.
Shape Styles
Choose a theme or preset style for your text box. These options include filling colors and various effects.
Or you can use the Shape Fill, Outline, and Effects options to create your own distinctive style. From gradients and patterns to dashed lines and scribbles, you have many terrific options for customizing the appearance of your text box.
Note: Some options in the Shape Styles section may not be available if you select a preset text box.
WordArt Styles
Along with making the text box itself look snazzy, you can do the same with the text inside of it. Check out the Quick Styles in the WordArt Styles for premade options.
Or use the Text Fill, Outline, and Effects to make the text really pop. You can do things like add a shadow and glow or warp the text, so it’s curvy and cool.
Text, Accessibility, Arrange, and Size
The remaining sections of the ribbon allow you to change the direction of the text inside the box, use text wrapping with other elements in your document, rotate the text box, and adjust its exact size. You can also use the Alt Text Accessibility option to describe the text box.
Edit Your Text Box
After you customize your text box, you can still edit it anytime. Just note that when you select the text box to make changes, it may appear without some of the elements or effects you’ve applied. This is to make text editing simpler.
Once you complete your edits and deselect the text box, it will return to normal with your customizations.
Add Text Anywhere, Any Way in Word
Text boxes in Microsoft Word let you place text anywhere in your document without worries of margins or other normal text limitations. And because you can completely format the text box almost any way you want, it can be both a fun and useful addition to your document.
If you use Google Docs and Microsoft Word, take a look at how to work with text boxes in Docs too!
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Inserting a Text Box.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 22, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365
Text boxes are useful for setting off information from the main part of your document. You can insert text boxes using any version of Word. There are two ways you can add a text box to your document, depending on the version of Word you are using. For any version of Word you can use the following method to insert a text box:
- Make sure you can see, on your screen, the general area where you want to insert the text box.
- Make sure the Insert tab of the ribbon is displayed.
- Click on the Text Box tool in the Text group. Word displays a series of options.
- Choose Draw Text Box. The mouse cursor changes to crosshairs.
- Position the crosshairs where you want the upper-left corner of the text box. Click on the left mouse button and drag the rectangle to the lower-right corner of the text box. Release the mouse button.
At the end of step 3 you may have noticed that the options presented by Word included several different predefined text boxes. This “gallery” of text boxes can come in handy if the reason you are creating a text box is met by the options. Feel free to select one of the options (which would preclude the need to perform steps 4 and 5) and experiment with the text boxes available.
Once your text box is created, you are ready to enter text into the box. The text you place in a text box is considered a part of that text box. For instance, if you change the size of a text box, then the text contained within it is reformatted to fit in the new dimensions of the text box. Similarly, if you delete a text box, the text within the box is also deleted.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training.
(Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.)
This tip (7726) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Inserting a Text Box.
Author Bio
With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen…
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Want to add a check box or tick box to a list or form in Microsoft Word? It’s easy to do, and you can even make it checkable so you can click the box with your mouse. We’ll show you an easy way to add a clickable checkbox using Developer Mode in Microsoft Word.
Steps
-
1
Open a new file in Microsoft Word. Do so by opening the app shaped like a blue W. Then click on File in the menu bar at the top of the screen, and click on New Blank Document.
-
2
Click on File in the menu bar and then Options in the menu.
- On Mac, click on Word in the menu bar and then Preferences… in the menu.
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-
3
Click on Customize Ribbon and then Main Tabs in the «Customize the Ribbon:» drop-down menu.»[1]
- On Mac, click on Ribbon & Toolbar in the «Authoring and Proofing Tools» section of the dialog box, then click on the Ribbon tab at the top of the dialog box.
-
4
Check «Developer» in the «Main Tabs» pane.
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5
Click on Ok.
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6
Click on Developer. It’s a tab in the upper-right part of the window.
-
7
Position the cursor where you’d like to insert the check box.
-
8
Click on Check Box. It’s in the menu bar at the top of the window.
-
9
Add additional check boxes and text as needed.
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10
Lock the form. To do so, select the entire list, to be found in the Controls section on the Developer tab, then click on Group and Group.
- On Mac, click Protect Form in the Developer tab toolbar.
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Add New Question
-
Question
What should I do if the check box is grayed out in my ribbon?
It is grayed out for me too. However, if you click on the one icon that isn’t — Legacy Tools — then you will find the exact same checkbox, which you should be able to select.
-
Question
How can I enlarge the size of a text box without enlarging the text?
In Word, just dragging the corner of the text box should be sufficient. If the text changes size accidentally, you can always highlight it and change it back to the desired size.
-
Question
How do you make a drop box in word?
Download LibreOffice. Follow the manual on how to add a list or list/add or list/multiselect box (or just look under «insert» in the menu). You can add a data source for the dropdown menu items from a database, a spreadsheet or within the file structure itself.
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About This Article
Article SummaryX
1. Open a document.
2. Click File.
3. Select Customize Ribbon and then click Main Tabs.
4. Check the «Developer» box.
5. Click Save.
6. Click Developer.
7. Click where you want to insert the check box.
8. Click Check Box.
9. Add additional boxes and text.
10. Lock the form.
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,240,190 times.