Combo box buttons visible all times

[Delano]

Hi,

I have a form in MS Word that contains several combo boxes. The dropdown
arrow/button in the combo boxes become visible only when that field is
selected or a specific combo box has focus. Is there a way to have all the
combo boxes in the Word form to display the dropdown button even if those
combo boxes are not selected or has focus? I need this setup this way as a
visual aid for the users of the form.

Thanks.

 

[Jean-Guy Marcil]

Hi,

I have a form in MS Word that contains several combo boxes. The dropdown
arrow/button in the combo boxes become visible only when that field is
selected or a specific combo box has focus. Is there a way to have all the
combo boxes in the Word form to display the dropdown button even if those
combo boxes are not selected or has focus? I need this setup this way as a
visual aid for the users of the form.

Unfortunately, I do not think you can change that behaviour.

On the other hand, when I have a form, I know I have to fill it out. The
formfields have a gray background, so users can see them easily. I am not
sure that seeing an arrow will be useful before you get to that field. I
mean, knowing before hand that one is a TextInput type, and another a
DropDown type does not change the fact that I still have to fill out all the
fields.

I guess you could have the first choice in the drop down be something like
"Select from the list" so that users can distinguish dropdowns from
non-dropdowns. Although, knowing this before getting to that field is, in my
opinion, only marginally useful in the context of a user fillling out a
form...

Another option is placing a small down arrow from the Wingding or Webding
set next to the dropdown...

 

[Delano]

Thanks. I'll give the wingding idea a shot.

Unfortunately, I do not think you can change that behaviour.

On the other hand, when I have a form, I know I have to fill it out. The
formfields have a gray background, so users can see them easily. I am not
sure that seeing an arrow will be useful before you get to that field. I
mean, knowing before hand that one is a TextInput type, and another a
DropDown type does not change the fact that I still have to fill out all the
fields.

I guess you could have the first choice in the drop down be something like
"Select from the list" so that users can distinguish dropdowns from
non-dropdowns. Although, knowing this before getting to that field is, in my
opinion, only marginally useful in the context of a user fillling out a
form...

Another option is placing a small down arrow from the Wingding or Webding
set next to the dropdown...