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How to Create a Microsoft Forms Order Form for Multiple Items

Camila Milosovich Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to create an order form allowing respondents to select multiple products and input varying quantities without using complicated branching logic.

How to Create a Microsoft Forms Order Form for Multiple Items

Product: Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Designing an internal or external order form (e.g., for supplies or workwear) where staff or customers need to request multiple different items at once.
Observed behavior: Setting up multiple items with different quantities via branching is overly complex and ineffective for simple order collection.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into your Microsoft 365 account with permissions to create forms, and have a list of all the items you want to include in your order form.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Flat Layout with Text Questions for Quantities

Avoid complex branching by listing all items on a single page, using text fields specifically formatted to capture numerical quantities for each item.

Microsoft Forms does not natively support a 'shopping cart' or multi-quantity matrix style out of the box. Using branching for multiple products quickly becomes unmanageable.

The most efficient workaround is to display all products on a single page and provide a dedicated text field for the quantity of each product.

Create a New Form

Open Microsoft Forms and click on 'New Form'. Enter a clear title and description for your order form.

Add Items as Text Questions

Click 'Add new' and select 'Text'. Name the question after your first product (e.g., 'Product A - Enter Quantity'). Repeat this step for all the items on your list.

Set Number Restrictions

For each text question, click the three dots (...) in the bottom right corner of the question block, select 'Restrictions', and choose 'Number'. This ensures users can only input valid numerical quantities.

Make Fields Optional

Ensure the 'Required' toggle is turned off for these item questions. Add a note in the form description instructing users to leave the field blank or enter '0' for items they do not want to order.

Add a Comments Section

Click 'Add new', select 'Text', and toggle on 'Long answer'. Label this 'Additional Instructions or Comments' so users can leave specific notes regarding their order.

Use a Flat Layout with Text Questions for Quantities

Simplified Form Logic: This flat structure completely eliminates the need for branching, keeping the form intuitive for respondents to fill out and easy for you to manage.

Create Order Forms Easily with WPS Forms

Design Multi-Item Order Forms with WPS Office

WPS Forms provides an intuitive interface and rich templates, making it incredibly easy to create order forms with multiple items, collect data, and analyze results seamlessly.

1. Open WPS Forms: Launch WPS Office and navigate to the 'Apps' tab, then select 'Forms' to start a new project.
2. Choose a Template or Blank Form: Search for an 'Order Form' in the template gallery for a head start, or select 'Blank Form' to build from scratch.
3. Add Product and Quantity Fields: Use the drag-and-drop editor to add Text or Multiple Choice fields for your items, enabling respondents to select what they need easily.
4. Share and Collect Responses: Click the 'Share' button to generate a unique link or QR code, then distribute it to your team or customers to start collecting orders immediately.

Access a rich library of pre-built, professional order form templates.Seamlessly export form responses to Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) or WPS Spreadsheet.Easily share your form via a secure link or QR code across mobile and desktop devices.Free and lightweight Office suite for all your document processing needs.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use branching in Microsoft Forms for a multi-item order form?

While branching is available in Microsoft Forms, using it to allow multiple selections with varying quantities often creates a confusing loop for respondents and becomes too complicated to manage. A flat, single-page layout is highly recommended instead.

Is it possible to calculate the total price automatically in Microsoft Forms?

No, Microsoft Forms does not feature built-in calculation functions to automatically compute order totals. You will need to export the responses to Excel and use formulas to calculate total prices.

How do I review all submitted orders?

Navigate to the 'Responses' tab at the top of your Microsoft Form. From there, you can view a summary of the submissions or click 'Open in Excel' to download a spreadsheet containing all order details for easy tracking.

Can respondents receive a copy of their order?

Yes. In Microsoft Forms, go to the top right corner, click the three dots (...), select 'Settings', and under 'Response receipts', check 'Allow receipt of responses after submission'. Respondents will have the option to print or download their answers.

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