WD: A REF Field Referencing a FORMDROPDOWN Field Does Not Update (176717)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q176717

SYMPTOMS

If you use a REF field to reference a drop-down list (FORMDROPDOWN field) in a document that is protected for forms, the REF field result will display the first item of the FORMDROPDOWN field and will not be updated if you change the selection in the FORMDROPDOWN field.

WORKAROUND

The Calculate On Exit setting needs to be turned on within the FORMDROPDOWN field. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open your online form template.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Unprotect Document.
  3. Double-click the FORMDROPDOWN field to open the Drop-Down Form Field options.
  4. Under Field Settings, click to select Calculate On Exit, and then click OK.
  5. On the Tools menu, click Protect Document, select Forms, and then click OK.
  6. On the File menu, click Save.
NOTE: If your form contains only one form field along with the REF field, press the TAB key to update the REF field; however if your form contains more than one form field, press TAB to leave the FORMDROPDOWN form.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about this situation in earlier versions of Word, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

114237 WD: REF Field Creates Duplicate Drop-Down List in Protected Form

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/7/2003
Keywords:kbbug kbfield kbfix kbmerge KB176717
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.