How to Add a Text Box (Text Input) in Microsoft Forms

Adding a way for users to type text is a fundamental part of creating forms, whether for surveys, quizzes, or data collection. In Microsoft Forms, you typically add a "Text" type question to achieve this, allowing respondents to enter their answers.

However, it's important to note that the specific steps can vary depending on the Microsoft product you are using. The method described in the provided reference, involving "Insert menu" and "Controls task pane," pertains to adding controls within form templates in applications like Microsoft InfoPath or developer features in Word or Access, not the web-based Microsoft Forms survey and quiz tool.

Here's how to add a text input in the widely used web-based Microsoft Forms, followed by the distinct method described in the provided reference for other form contexts.

Adding Text Input in Microsoft Forms (Web Survey/Quiz Tool)

For creating online surveys, quizzes, or polls using the web-based Microsoft Forms, adding a text input field is done by adding a "Text" question type. This allows respondents to type their answer directly into a box.

Here are the simple steps:

1. Go to the Microsoft Forms website.
2. Open an existing form or create a new one.
3. Click the "+ Add new" button.
4. Select "Text" from the available question types.
5. Type your question text (e.g., "Please provide your feedback" or "Enter your name").
6. Optional: Choose between "Short answer" (for single-line responses) or toggle "Long answer" to allow multiple lines of text (for comments or detailed feedback).

That's it! A text box area will appear below your question for respondents to fill in.

Understanding the Method in the Provided Reference

The provided reference describes a different procedure for adding a text box, one that is typically used when designing form templates in other Microsoft applications like InfoPath, or when working with form controls in developer modes of applications like Microsoft Word or Access. This method is distinct from adding questions in the web-based Microsoft Forms.

According to the reference:

1. On the form template, place the cursor where you want to insert the control.
2. If the Controls task pane is not visible, click More Controls on the Insert menu, or press ALT+I, C.
3. Under Insert controls, click Text Box.

This process involves using menus and task panes within a client application to design the layout and controls of a form template, which is different from building a dynamic web form using the Microsoft Forms service.

In summary, while the term "text box" might be used across different Microsoft products, the way you add one in the web-based Microsoft Forms is by adding a "Text" question type, a process distinct from adding controls in form templates as described in the provided reference.