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Judy Judy is offline
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Default content controls versus legacy controls

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the content controls found
in the gallery when you click the Developer tab, as opposed to the same
controls found when you click the Legacy controls?

I cannot figure out what the difference isw or how to explain to someone
else what the difference is, why should I use the controls on the Legacy
Control panel instead of just using the ones without clicking hte Legacy
Controls button.

Thanks,
Judy
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WordBanter AI WordBanter AI is offline
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Thumbs up Answer: content controls versus legacy controls

Difference between Content Controls and Legacy Controls in Microsoft Word

Content controls and legacy controls are two types of controls in Microsoft Word. Here's a breakdown of their differences:
  1. Content controls are newer controls that allow you to add structured content to your document. They are found in the Developer tab and include options such as text boxes, drop-down lists, and date pickers. Content controls are designed to be more user-friendly and easier to use than legacy controls.
  2. Legacy controls are older controls that have been around for a long time in Word. They are found in the Legacy Forms section of the Developer tab and include options such as check boxes, radio buttons, and combo boxes. Legacy controls are more complex and require more technical knowledge to use than content controls.

If you are working with a document that was created in an older version of Word, it may already have legacy controls in it. In this case, it may be easier to continue using legacy controls rather than converting everything to content controls. Additionally, if you need more advanced functionality than what is available in content controls, you may need to use legacy controls and add some custom VBA code.

However, in general, it is recommended to use content controls whenever possible. They are easier to use and more user-friendly, and they are the direction that Microsoft is moving in with future versions of Word.
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Jay Freedman Jay Freedman is offline
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Posts: 9,854
Default content controls versus legacy controls

On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:50:01 -0800, Judy
wrote:

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the content controls found
in the gallery when you click the Developer tab, as opposed to the same
controls found when you click the Legacy controls?

I cannot figure out what the difference isw or how to explain to someone
else what the difference is, why should I use the controls on the Legacy
Control panel instead of just using the ones without clicking hte Legacy
Controls button.

Thanks,
Judy


The legacy controls, as their name implies, are older -- they've been
part of Word practically forever.

The top row of buttons, Legacy Forms, create form fields that operate
only when the document is "protected for forms"; that locks all parts
of the document so they can't be edited except inside the fields.
Although that works well for a lot of uses, it also disables some
important features such as spell checking and inserting pictures
unless you use macro programming (for example,
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/Macros...rotectDoc.htm).

The other buttons, ActiveX Controls, are really meant for web pages
but can be used (carefully!) in other documents. They require macros
in order to operate. The article
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa140269(office.10).aspx
explains how to use them.

Content controls are new in Word 2007. They don't need (shouldn't
have) forms protection. They don't require macros, although macros can
make them much more useful (for example,
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Mapped_Content_Control.htm). They offer some
abilities the others don't have, such as the rich text control and the
date picker. If you want to make a document where users can edit only
inside the content controls, select the whole document (or just part
of it) and use the Group button; this kind of protection doesn't
interfere with other features the way forms protection does.

The main drawback of content controls is that they can't be used in
Word 2003 or earlier, even if you have the Compatibility Pack that
lets you open docx files. If the document must be sent to others who
don't have Word 2007, don't use content controls in it; use form
fields instead.

The one content control that's missing in Word 2007 (but will be
available in Word 2010) is a check box. You can work around that as
discussed at http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Custom_CC_Checkboxes.htm.


--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
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Jay Freedman Jay Freedman is offline
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Posts: 9,854
Default content controls versus legacy controls

On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:50:01 -0800, Judy
wrote:

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the content controls found
in the gallery when you click the Developer tab, as opposed to the same
controls found when you click the Legacy controls?

I cannot figure out what the difference isw or how to explain to someone
else what the difference is, why should I use the controls on the Legacy
Control panel instead of just using the ones without clicking hte Legacy
Controls button.

Thanks,
Judy


The legacy controls, as their name implies, are older -- they've been
part of Word practically forever.

The top row of buttons, Legacy Forms, create form fields that operate
only when the document is "protected for forms"; that locks all parts
of the document so they can't be edited except inside the fields.
Although that works well for a lot of uses, it also disables some
important features such as spell checking and inserting pictures
unless you use macro programming (for example,
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/Macros...rotectDoc.htm).

The other buttons, ActiveX Controls, are really meant for web pages
but can be used (carefully!) in other documents. They require macros
in order to operate. The article
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa140269(office.10).aspx
explains how to use them.

Content controls are new in Word 2007. They don't need (shouldn't
have) forms protection. They don't require macros, although macros can
make them much more useful (for example,
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Mapped_Content_Control.htm). They offer some
abilities the others don't have, such as the rich text control and the
date picker. If you want to make a document where users can edit only
inside the content controls, select the whole document (or just part
of it) and use the Group button; this kind of protection doesn't
interfere with other features the way forms protection does.

The main drawback of content controls is that they can't be used in
Word 2003 or earlier, even if you have the Compatibility Pack that
lets you open docx files. If the document must be sent to others who
don't have Word 2007, don't use content controls in it; use form
fields instead.

The one content control that's missing in Word 2007 (but will be
available in Word 2010) is a check box. You can work around that as
discussed at http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Custom_CC_Checkboxes.htm.


--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
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Graham Mayor Graham Mayor is offline
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Posts: 19,312
Default content controls versus legacy controls

To add to Jay's comments, if you wisjh to make use of legacy form fields,
you will find this is enhanced by another of Greg's add-ins -
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Classic%20Form%20Controls.htm

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org



"Jay Freedman" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:50:01 -0800, Judy
wrote:

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the content controls
found
in the gallery when you click the Developer tab, as opposed to the same
controls found when you click the Legacy controls?

I cannot figure out what the difference isw or how to explain to someone
else what the difference is, why should I use the controls on the Legacy
Control panel instead of just using the ones without clicking hte Legacy
Controls button.

Thanks,
Judy


The legacy controls, as their name implies, are older -- they've been
part of Word practically forever.

The top row of buttons, Legacy Forms, create form fields that operate
only when the document is "protected for forms"; that locks all parts
of the document so they can't be edited except inside the fields.
Although that works well for a lot of uses, it also disables some
important features such as spell checking and inserting pictures
unless you use macro programming (for example,
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/Macros...rotectDoc.htm).

The other buttons, ActiveX Controls, are really meant for web pages
but can be used (carefully!) in other documents. They require macros
in order to operate. The article
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa140269(office.10).aspx
explains how to use them.

Content controls are new in Word 2007. They don't need (shouldn't
have) forms protection. They don't require macros, although macros can
make them much more useful (for example,
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Mapped_Content_Control.htm). They offer some
abilities the others don't have, such as the rich text control and the
date picker. If you want to make a document where users can edit only
inside the content controls, select the whole document (or just part
of it) and use the Group button; this kind of protection doesn't
interfere with other features the way forms protection does.

The main drawback of content controls is that they can't be used in
Word 2003 or earlier, even if you have the Compatibility Pack that
lets you open docx files. If the document must be sent to others who
don't have Word 2007, don't use content controls in it; use form
fields instead.

The one content control that's missing in Word 2007 (but will be
available in Word 2010) is a check box. You can work around that as
discussed at http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Custom_CC_Checkboxes.htm.


--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup
so all may benefit.





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Graham Mayor Graham Mayor is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 19,312
Default content controls versus legacy controls

To add to Jay's comments, if you wisjh to make use of legacy form fields,
you will find this is enhanced by another of Greg's add-ins -
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Classic%20Form%20Controls.htm

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org



"Jay Freedman" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:50:01 -0800, Judy
wrote:

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the content controls
found
in the gallery when you click the Developer tab, as opposed to the same
controls found when you click the Legacy controls?

I cannot figure out what the difference isw or how to explain to someone
else what the difference is, why should I use the controls on the Legacy
Control panel instead of just using the ones without clicking hte Legacy
Controls button.

Thanks,
Judy


The legacy controls, as their name implies, are older -- they've been
part of Word practically forever.

The top row of buttons, Legacy Forms, create form fields that operate
only when the document is "protected for forms"; that locks all parts
of the document so they can't be edited except inside the fields.
Although that works well for a lot of uses, it also disables some
important features such as spell checking and inserting pictures
unless you use macro programming (for example,
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/Macros...rotectDoc.htm).

The other buttons, ActiveX Controls, are really meant for web pages
but can be used (carefully!) in other documents. They require macros
in order to operate. The article
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa140269(office.10).aspx
explains how to use them.

Content controls are new in Word 2007. They don't need (shouldn't
have) forms protection. They don't require macros, although macros can
make them much more useful (for example,
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Mapped_Content_Control.htm). They offer some
abilities the others don't have, such as the rich text control and the
date picker. If you want to make a document where users can edit only
inside the content controls, select the whole document (or just part
of it) and use the Group button; this kind of protection doesn't
interfere with other features the way forms protection does.

The main drawback of content controls is that they can't be used in
Word 2003 or earlier, even if you have the Compatibility Pack that
lets you open docx files. If the document must be sent to others who
don't have Word 2007, don't use content controls in it; use form
fields instead.

The one content control that's missing in Word 2007 (but will be
available in Word 2010) is a check box. You can work around that as
discussed at http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Custom_CC_Checkboxes.htm.


--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup
so all may benefit.



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Judy Judy is offline
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Posts: 54
Default content controls versus legacy controls

Thank you so much for the explanation. This is exactly what i needed to
understand the differences and be able to explain.

Judy

"Jay Freedman" wrote:

On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:50:01 -0800, Judy
wrote:

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the content controls found
in the gallery when you click the Developer tab, as opposed to the same
controls found when you click the Legacy controls?

I cannot figure out what the difference isw or how to explain to someone
else what the difference is, why should I use the controls on the Legacy
Control panel instead of just using the ones without clicking hte Legacy
Controls button.

Thanks,
Judy


The legacy controls, as their name implies, are older -- they've been
part of Word practically forever.

The top row of buttons, Legacy Forms, create form fields that operate
only when the document is "protected for forms"; that locks all parts
of the document so they can't be edited except inside the fields.
Although that works well for a lot of uses, it also disables some
important features such as spell checking and inserting pictures
unless you use macro programming (for example,
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/Macros...rotectDoc.htm).

The other buttons, ActiveX Controls, are really meant for web pages
but can be used (carefully!) in other documents. They require macros
in order to operate. The article
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa140269(office.10).aspx
explains how to use them.

Content controls are new in Word 2007. They don't need (shouldn't
have) forms protection. They don't require macros, although macros can
make them much more useful (for example,
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Mapped_Content_Control.htm). They offer some
abilities the others don't have, such as the rich text control and the
date picker. If you want to make a document where users can edit only
inside the content controls, select the whole document (or just part
of it) and use the Group button; this kind of protection doesn't
interfere with other features the way forms protection does.

The main drawback of content controls is that they can't be used in
Word 2003 or earlier, even if you have the Compatibility Pack that
lets you open docx files. If the document must be sent to others who
don't have Word 2007, don't use content controls in it; use form
fields instead.

The one content control that's missing in Word 2007 (but will be
available in Word 2010) is a check box. You can work around that as
discussed at http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Custom_CC_Checkboxes.htm.


--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
.

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Judy Judy is offline
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Posts: 54
Default content controls versus legacy controls

Thank you so much for the explanation. This is exactly what i needed to
understand the differences and be able to explain.

Judy

"Jay Freedman" wrote:

On Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:50:01 -0800, Judy
wrote:

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the content controls found
in the gallery when you click the Developer tab, as opposed to the same
controls found when you click the Legacy controls?

I cannot figure out what the difference isw or how to explain to someone
else what the difference is, why should I use the controls on the Legacy
Control panel instead of just using the ones without clicking hte Legacy
Controls button.

Thanks,
Judy


The legacy controls, as their name implies, are older -- they've been
part of Word practically forever.

The top row of buttons, Legacy Forms, create form fields that operate
only when the document is "protected for forms"; that locks all parts
of the document so they can't be edited except inside the fields.
Although that works well for a lot of uses, it also disables some
important features such as spell checking and inserting pictures
unless you use macro programming (for example,
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/Macros...rotectDoc.htm).

The other buttons, ActiveX Controls, are really meant for web pages
but can be used (carefully!) in other documents. They require macros
in order to operate. The article
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa140269(office.10).aspx
explains how to use them.

Content controls are new in Word 2007. They don't need (shouldn't
have) forms protection. They don't require macros, although macros can
make them much more useful (for example,
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Mapped_Content_Control.htm). They offer some
abilities the others don't have, such as the rich text control and the
date picker. If you want to make a document where users can edit only
inside the content controls, select the whole document (or just part
of it) and use the Group button; this kind of protection doesn't
interfere with other features the way forms protection does.

The main drawback of content controls is that they can't be used in
Word 2003 or earlier, even if you have the Compatibility Pack that
lets you open docx files. If the document must be sent to others who
don't have Word 2007, don't use content controls in it; use form
fields instead.

The one content control that's missing in Word 2007 (but will be
available in Word 2010) is a check box. You can work around that as
discussed at http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Custom_CC_Checkboxes.htm.


--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
.

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