Merging check boxes in a Text Template

Problem

I know how to automate check boxes in my form templates, but I'm unsure of how to create check boxes in a text template.

Solution

Some fonts on your system include empty box characters, as well as box characters with an X. You simply need to conditionally insert these characters in your template. For example, if you have the Wingdings 2 font installed on your computer, you can complete the following steps to merge these characters.

To create check boxes in a text template

1. Automate your template, including specifying the conditional instructions that will merge the correct check box. (Use placeholder characters to represent the check boxes.)
2. Open the Windows Character Map tool. (For instructions on finding and opening this tool, refer to your Windows Help.)
3. Click the Font drop-down button and choose Wingdings 2. The character list changes to show the different characters available to you.
4. Locate a box with an X in it and click Select. This adds the character to the Characters to copy field.
5. Locate a box without an X in it and click Select. This adds this character to the box as well.
6. Click Copy.
7. In the template, place your cursor where the check boxes should go and choose the Paste command (for example, press Ctrl+V). The characters are inserted in your template. (You may need to highlight the character and choose Wingdings 2 from the application's font menu to reapply the correct font.)

A simpler way to merge check boxes may be to place either an X character or empty space character between opening and closing brackets. For example, [X] vs. [ ].