Forms in Excel: Types and How to Create Them

When we work with numerical data, one of the most interesting software alternatives that we can use for years is Excel from Microsoft . This is a program that has been with us for a good number of years and has not stopped growing and improving. We could not say that together with Word it is one of the most used applications in the world.

As many of you already know, this is a powerful application that allows us to create our own spreadsheets . These can be of help to us both in domestic environments, as well as in more professional or corporate environments. Thus, it allows us to easily carry out household accounting or do all kinds of calculations, even keeping the accounts of a large company. Everything will depend on the knowledge we have of the program or how much we want to express it.

For this, in addition to the commented numerical data, we can use a multitude of additional elements. We will find these in the Insert menu section. In this way we will have the possibility of adding images, graphics, tables, etc.

What it does is to add value to our spreadsheets and projects in the Office program. To all this we can also add the elements that we are going to talk about in these same lines, the forms in Excel.

What are forms in Excel

The first thing to keep in mind is that the spreadsheets that we generate in Excel usually store a large amount of data and formulas . All this will help us to carry out calculations of all kinds based on the values entered in the different cells or sheets. But at the same time we can make use of the additional elements that we have discussed previously. Thus, it is possible to add data to our spreadsheets through the aforementioned Excel forms to give the project a bonus.

That is why in these same lines we are going to talk about these specific elements as well as how to create them in our spreadsheets. You have to know that Excel forms are a very useful method to add extra data to our sheets in the program. In this way, thanks to these elements we will have the possibility of adding data written manually, or adding elements that allow us to choose certain data to avoid errors .

To give us an idea, these Excel forms are similar to any other form. These are the ones that we are more than used to filling in the traditional paper format, or today, through the Internet, but now in Excel .

Types of Excel forms to create and customize

At the same time, as with many other Excel functions , the complexity of these elements will depend on our prior knowledge. We tell you this because Excel allows us to create up to three different types of forms. These are known as data forms, spreadsheets with ActiveX controls, and user forms in VBA or Visual Basic for Applications.

The first one refers to a form that offers a way to type or display a row of information in an interval or table without having to scroll horizontally. This will allow us to better visualize the data on a sheet when using a data form . In this way we avoid having to move from column to column. Of course, this helps us in the event that the sheet we create has more columns of data than we can see on the screen.

Active X and VBA forms in Excel

On the other hand, if we find a spreadsheet with ActiveX and form controls . Well, here we are talking specifically about a type of form that allows us to enter and view data in the grid itself and validate them. Form controls allow you to interact with the data in the cell without using VBA code.

To start with this process, we access the VBA console from the Developer / Visual Basic menu option. Next, the corresponding window appears so that we can access the Insert / Userform menu. From there we can start to enter the code for creating the form.

Active X controls, for their part, can be useful in spreadsheet forms with or without the use of VBA code. It is worth mentioning that one of the main characteristics of Active X controls is that they have many properties that allow us to customize them. This is something that extends to both its appearance and its behavior in the Excel project. It is evident that to create these forms we will need advanced knowledge of the program, including programming.

Enable Developer tab in Excel

Of course, to be able to make use of these elements that we are talking about for the creation of forms, being a function aimed at advanced users, it could appear hidden. That is why, first of all, what we must do is activate the tab that allows us to access these functions, since it is hidden by default. Thus, in order to see it, the first thing we do is click on the Excel File menu, where we select Options.

After this, in the window that appears, in the left panel we select the Customize ribbon option. From that moment on, we will have the possibility to activate, in the right panel, the Developer box.

How to create a form in Excel more easily

On the other hand, and for those who do not have advanced knowledge, in order to create an Excel data form, we have a simpler system. The first thing we do is open the Office application and we go to the Data menu option where we can choose the Form entry. This is also found by typing the same word in the What do you want to do section.

From this moment on we will be able to create a new form and write the corresponding information to it. We should know that the column labels are converted to field names, while the data that we write in each one is placed in the next blank row.

Add content controls to Excel form

In the case that we want to create a form with content controls, first make sure we have the Developer tab visible. Before we already tell you the best way to activate it. Therefore, now from Developer we go to Controls / Insert, where we can choose the form or Active X controls that we want to add to the form.