Content Control in MS Word is a way to protect areas of your document, and allow users to only change specific areas.
You can reserve certain areas in a Word document for content control. For instance, you can bind a reserved region with a text box. This way, you can allow these reserved regions to act as containers.
For instance, you may have forms with reserved regions where the user can fill in their data. By binding and labeling these regions, you can specify the content that will go into the region.
How to add content control in MS Word
- Turn on Developer Mode for adding a content control
- Add content control
- Edit content control
- Remove content control
We will show you how to do the above in easy, step-by-step instructions.
Before following these steps, we encourage you to first read this article:
How to Create Fillable Forms in MS Word.
Let us begin.
Method #1: Turn on Developer Mode
Step #1: Open Word document
Open a Word document where you want to add content control.
In our example below, we want the reader only to be able to add a date, and not change anything else.
Step #2: Open File Menu
In the main menu bar, click on the File tab.
The File menu will open.
Step #3: Open Word Options Dialog Box
In the left-hand pane, click on Options at the bottom.
The Word Options dialog box will open.
Step #4: Turn On Developer Mode
In the left pane, click on Customize Ribbon.
In the right-most pane, click and select Developer Mode.
Click on the OK button at the bottom to close the dialog box.
The top menu bar has a new entry now — Developer.
Method #2: Add Content Control
Step #1: Open Word document
Open a Word document where you want to add content control.
Click within the region where you want to add content control.
Step #2: Add Content Control
In the top menu bar, click on the Developer tab to change the ribbon.
The Controls section shows 10 types of Content Controls that you can use in your document.
For this tutorial, we will show you how to use date picker content control.
In the Controls section, click on the Date Picker Content Control Icon.
Tip: Hover with your mouse over the icons to see their descriptions.
Date content control will be added to the reserved region in the document.
Click on the down arrow in the date content control.
A calendar will open.
Select a date.
The selected date appears in the reserved region.
Method #3: Edit Content Control
Step #1: Open Word Document
Open a Word document where content control is present.
Click on the controlled content that you want to edit.
Step #2: Edit Controlled Content
Click on the control element that appears, in this case, a down arrow.
A calendar appears.
Select the appropriate date.
The changed date appears in the reserved region of the document.
Method #4: Remove Content Control
Step #1: Open Word Document
Open a Word document where content control is present.
Right-click on the controlled content that you want to remove.
Step #2: Remove Content Control
In the menu that drops down, click on Remove Content Control.
The content will remain in the document, but the control is no longer available.
Conclusion
We have shown you how to turn on developer mode and add, edit, and remove content control in your MS Word document. Use our easy step-by-step instructions to change your forms.