---
title: "Dynamic checkboxes in Custom Word Reporting"
slug: "custom-word-reporting-dynamic-checkboxes"
updated: 2026-09-28T06:23:24Z
published: 2026-09-28T06:23:24Z
canonical: "help.quickbase.com/custom-word-reporting-dynamic-checkboxes"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.quickbase.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Dynamic checkboxes in Custom Word Reporting

## Overview

When creating a Custom Word Report, you have the capability to include dynamic checkboxes that correspond with items checked off from a user's submitted form. For example, if a user checks off items from a list on a form from the App, your report can also show that same list with checkboxes marked accordingly.

## Prerequisites

Before you can add dynamic checkboxes to your custom Word report, you'll need to:

- Have an **updated version of Word**. Many of these techniques are not going to work if your Word program is out of date. We recommend that you have a Word version of 2017 or greater.
- **Enable Developer Settings** in Word. These settings are usually not enabled by default, and the steps, which are included in this article, vary slightly for Mac and Windows.

## Enable Developer Settings: Windows

Follow these steps to **enable Developer Settings** in Microsoft Word on Windows.

**1.**

![Word Options dialog with Customize Ribbon selected on Windows](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/window_word1.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)

**2.**

![Word Options dialog with the Developer checkbox under Main Tabs](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/window_word2.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)

**3.**

![Developer tab now visible on the Word ribbon on Windows](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/window_word3.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)

**4.**

![Legacy Tools menu open on the Developer tab in Word for Windows](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/window_word4.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)

In the Windows version of Word, you have 3 different checkbox types to choose from. Only 1 of the types works with our software, so it is important that you choose the right one.

In Windows, they call the checkbox type that we use **Legacy Forms Checkbox**. The following screenshot shows the correct one:

![Legacy Forms Checkbox option highlighted in the Legacy Tools menu](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/window_word5.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)

## Enable Developer Settings: Mac

1. Open **Word** and select **Preferences** > **Ribbon & Toolbar**

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**
> 
> There may be slight variations in menu names depending on your version of Word and whether you are using a Mac or PC.

![Word Preferences dialog with Ribbon and Toolbar selected on Mac](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/word_developer_1.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)
2. On the right panel there is a menu item called **Developer** that is unchecked by default. Make sure Developer is **checked** and click **Save**.

![Developer checkbox selected in Word Ribbon and Toolbar preferences on Mac](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/word_developer_2.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)
3. Once saved, you will notice on your menu a new **Developer tab**. Select it and you will notice that there is a **Check Box** button. This is what you will use to add **dynamic checkboxes** to your custom Word templates.

![Check Box button on the Developer tab in Word for Mac](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/word_developer_3.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)

## How to add dynamic checkboxes to your Custom Word Template

Before adding dynamic checkboxes to your Word report, there are a few limitations and prerequisites to be aware of:

- It is currently NOT possible to add checkboxes to fields inside **Subforms** or **Repeating Sections**. We currently only support checkboxes that are in the main form.
- You must have **Developer Settings** turned on. If you haven't already done so, please follow the steps in the previous section.
- You need to make sure your Field Keys and Values have less than 20 characters since Microsoft Word only supports 20 characters for defining your bookmark.

To add Dynamic Checkboxes to your Custom Word report:

1. **Set up your List field** in the Form Builder.
  - In the following example, we have a simple list that asks *What is your favorite color?*
  - This list has a **Field Key** of *favoriteColor* with 3 **list** **values**: Blue, Red, and Green.
  - We have also enabled **Allow Multi-Selection** so that it will map to multiple list values at once.

![List field settings for favoriteColor with Blue, Red, and Green values](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/2017-11-13_1003.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)

![Allow Multi-Selection option enabled for the list field](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/2017-11-13_1005.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)
2. **Add Checkboxes** to your Word template (one for each list value).
  - In our example below, we have added 3 **Checkboxes** since we have 3 values: Blue, Green, and Red.

![Word template with three checkboxes added for Blue, Green, and Red](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/checkbox_example_3.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)
3. **Double-click** your Check Box or **right-click** and select **Properties**. In the **Bookmark** field, put the **Field Key** of your list followed by an **underscore**(_) and the **value** of your list item.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**
> 
> Your list values must NOT have any spaces or else they will not work with your custom Word template.
  - In our example, we typed *favoriteColor_Blue* in the **Bookmark** field since our Field Key is *favoriteColor* and the value of the selected checkbox is *Blue*.

![Check Box Properties dialog with favoriteColor_Blue entered as the bookmark](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/checkbox_example_4.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)
4. **Repeat step #3** for each of your checkboxes.

![All three checkboxes mapped to their bookmark values](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/checkbox_example_5.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)
5. After you are done mapping each of your checkboxes to your list values, **save** your Word document. Then, upload it to the **Custom Report Settings Tab** of the builder.

![Custom Report Settings tab with the Word template uploaded](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/2017-11-13_0951.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)

![Word template upload confirmation in the Custom Report Settings tab](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/checkbox_example_7.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)
6. **Save** and **publish** your form. Then, **open the app**, **log in** and **submit** your updated form. You will see that, on your report, the list items that you selected will be checked in your custom word report.

![Submitted form in the FastField mobile app with checkbox list values selected](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/Image_uploaded_from_iOS__5_.jpg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)

And here is what it will look like on the Word report.

![Word report with the selected checkboxes marked accordingly](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/checkbox_example_9.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-10-30T13%3A10%3A39Z&se=2026-10-30T14%3A10%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=lZM6MV7VKOhaDQGLq64ePV%2FInabdCItG131Cocd8dLs%3D)

You have now successfully set up dynamic checkboxes in your custom Word report.