Where did forms go in Word 12?
[If you landed here from a search, the short answer is "you need to turn on developer tools." Do this through File, Word Options, Views, and check the box next to Developer Tools. Now you'll have a Developer ribbon with an option to insert Word, ActiveX, or Web controls (aka "Content Controls"). The original post follows...]
A friend of mine is frustrated that form fields aren't spell-checked in Word 2003, so I opened up the laptop to see if this is solved in Office 12. And guess what? Forms are just plain gone. Insert... Document Parts... Field either isn't it or it just isn't ready in this version. I can create a Fill-In field, and though it exists (I can right-click in that position and see Update Field as an option), there's nothing visible to fill in.
In looking for alternatives it also seems there's no easy way to embed a fillable InfoPath form (or field) in a Word document. I tried Insert Object, but InfoPath remains a third-class citizen in this regard and doesn't appear in the list of options alongside Excel Chart, Project Document and Visio Drawing.
So what's the solution? Is it just buried where I can't find it? Is there another way to create a simple fill-in-the-blanks, check-the-boxes kinda form in Word?
[Read Brian Jones's post to learn about content controls.]