Key Points

• A form consists of instructions, questions, and comments that don’t change and form fields that are filled out by the form’s users.

• You can insert several types of form fields in a form: text form fields for variable information; check boxes for yes/no or true/false responses; and drop-down form fields for lists of predefined choices.

• You can enhance the usability and look of a form by changing formatting, adding graphics, and changing form field properties, such as the length of text form fields or the default setting for a check box.

• Before distributing a form, you need to protect it so that only the form fields can be changed. If you need to change the layout or contents later, you must first unprotect the form.

• You can print a form or distribute it electronically, either as a Word document or as a Web document. If you distribute the form as a Word document, you need to save the form as a template so that each user can create a separate document for his or her responses.