Word 2K ? Enable drop down boxes w/o protecting the doc

[rbtapper]

I have had this question for a while and I have never gotten an clear answer

I am not sure why you need to protect a document in order to enable a drop down box.

For example, I have a 10x6 table. The first column is the "Name" which will have the person's name. This column changes frequently. In the next 3 of the columns I want a drop down box with options 1-5. The next column I want a drop down with 3 options for "Accept, Deny, Probation". Then I need a column for "Comments" that you need to be able to write it a quick note. However, the problem is that if I protect the document to allow the drop down boxes, the "Name" & "Comments" column will be protected from entering any text.

I am not sure why this is. I don't want to protect it. I have no need. I just want a normal doc that I can use drop down boxes in.

Is this possible? Why and why not. Any help would be appreciated.

I am not a feeb and have a fair amount of technical experience but I am far from a Word power user. I have pretty much no experience writing macros, but still, this doesn't seem like it should be a big deal. Can anyone help out?

 

[Phaed]

it is simple. There r TWO types drop down available IN a Word doc ( as opposed to drop downs on a UserForm, that is, a form generated by VBA).

Form Field drop downs REQUIRE protection. Sorry, but that how they work. purpose of form fields is 2 lock documents for rapid data entry. Users ONLY enter/jump between fields. design is for uses where the user has no need to edit, or should not edit. Therefore protection is part of functionality.

u CAN isolate the drop downs in a table. put selection point RIGHT BEFORE the formfield in the cell, and insert a Continuous Section break; put selection point RIGHT AFTER the last formfield and insert Continuous section break. make form protection nly for the sections with the fields; all other sections normal - cells on either side can accept text input.

also have drop down in Word doc, without protection. use ActiveX controls. work well.

insert activex w/ Controls toolbox (View > Toolbars > Control toolbox.

activex drop down controls can ONLY be populated by code

code must be in ThisDocument

controls have many events, and can easily do just about anything u want.