Unlocking / locking word files

[stu_thailand]

I am trying to create a word document for my customers to fill in.

It has 3 elements.

-Text / Instructions
- Drop down boxes
- Text boxes

In order for the drop down boxes to become active, they have to be locked.
The problem is, that once they are locked, the entire document is locked and
nothing can be typed in the text boxes.

Is there some way to 'protect' these drop down boxes and still be able to
type in the text boxes?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jay Freedman]

I am trying to create a word document for my customers to fill in.

It has 3 elements.

-Text / Instructions
- Drop down boxes
- Text boxes

In order for the drop down boxes to become active, they have to be locked.
The problem is, that once they are locked, the entire document is locked and
nothing can be typed in the text boxes.

Is there some way to 'protect' these drop down boxes and still be able to
type in the text boxes?

Thanks in advance.

There is a big difference between a "text box" and a "text form field". In a
protected form document you need to use a text form field, which will allow the
user to type. You insert a text form field from the same toolbar that you used
to insert the dropdowns. Text boxes -- as you already found out -- are not
editable in a protected document.