How to Create a Custom Form in Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook lets you create a Form. Typical examples of Outlook Forms as features such as business cards, meeting requests, appointments, and email messages. All these forms are stored in a place known as the Standard Forms Library.

You can customize some parts of these Standard Forms by adding, changing, or hiding certain sections. Customizing forms is especially important if you need to send emails with specific requests for information. Here are the steps to follow to customize a unique form in Outlook.

Setting the Developer Tab

The first thing to note is that you can only create a custom form in Outlook using the Developer tab. Here’s how it works:

Stage 1: Start Microsoft Outlook.

Step 2: Right-click the ribbon and then select Customize Ribbon from the list of options.

Stage 3: In the new dialog box under the group titled Choose Commands, select the drop-down menu and choose Main Tabs.

Step 4: Select Developer from the Listed Options and click Add in the middle of the dialog.

Step 5: Under the group titled Customize Classic Ribbon, check the box next to Developer, and then click OK to close the dialog.

Custom Form Design

With the developer now available in your Ribbon, you can access the Design Form feature to create your new From.

Stage 1: In the Search Menu, type Design Form. Alternatively, you can go to the Developer tab on the Ribbon, click the Custom Forms group, and then click Design Form.

Step 2: In the new dialog, select the drop-down menu and choose Standard Forms Library.

Stage 3: Select the Form (We chose Appointment) you want to customize from the listed options and click Open.

Step 4: To add a new field or region to the Open Form, select New Form Region from the Ribbon.

Step 5: Select a new field from the list of fields shown and click New.

Step 6: Enter the details of the name of your new field, the type of data to enter, the data format and select OK.

Step 7: Select P.2 on the tab next to your Form Name.

Step 8: Select the Page button from the Ribbon.

Step 9: Select Rename Page from the drop-down menu.

Step 10: Enter the name of the New Page and click OK.

Step 11: Select Field Picker from the Ribbon

Step 1/2: Drag the new fields created from the Field Picker to the new Sheet.

Saving and Publishing a Form in Microsoft Outlook

Now that you have created your custom form, you need to save and distribute it. You can save the form as a template or publish it directly to a folder. Here’s how it works:

Saving a Form in Microsoft Outlook

To save the new form as an Outlook Template, you need to:

Stage 1: Select File on the Ribbon tab.

Step 2: Click Save As.

Stage 3: Enter File Name and Save File Type as Outlook Template.

In the future, you can always access the Form by selecting Select Form from the Developer tab.

Note: When Outlook Template is selected, the file is saved as .ost. However, users are not allowed to save certain forms as templates in Microsoft Outlook 2013.

Publishing a Form in Microsoft Outlook

Another way to save a custom form is to publish it. Here’s how it works:

Note: This does not work in Office 2013 version.

Stage 1: On the Ribbon tab, select Publish.

Step 2: Select Publish Form As.

Stage 3: In the new dialog, select the drop-down menu next to Look to choose a location for the new form.

Step 4: Enter a Display Name for the form.

Step 5: Select Publish.

To access the form, select New Items, More Items, then Select Form from your Outlook Ribbon.

Creating Voting Buttons in Microsoft Outlook

Creating a form in Microsoft Outlook helps you customize the type of information you collect or send. Another feature that lets you collate data in Microsoft Outlook is the vote button. You can create a poll with the voting button and follow the answers.