Microsoft Word/date fields

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Expert: Suzanne S. Barnhill - 7/9/2009


Question
MS word 2007 - How can i change a group of saved docs when a 'date' field was created in the template used instead of a 'createdate' field. I do not want the date to change and i want to save the docs with the original date they were made. Can i do it as a group as i have over 50 files with this problem now.

Thank you

Answer
It would probably be just as easy to make the change to each document as you open it (and the ones you don't open won't matter), but if you want to try to do them as a batch, see the articles at http://www.gmayor.com/batch_replace.htm and http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/VBA_Find_And_Replace.htm

I rather doubt that this will work, however, as I have been unable to discover a way to replace entire fields. You can try replacing DATE with CREATEDATE (with field codes displayed), and, as long as you have "Match case" enabled, perhaps you won't make too much of a mess, but, as I said, I would be inclined to just make the change on individual documents on an ad hoc basis.

Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word) 1999-2009
About Microsoft Word
This topic answers questions related to Microsoft Word stand-alone or Mircrosoft Office Word including Word 2003, Word 2007, Office 2000, and Office XP. You can get Word help on formatting text, tables, tabs, fonts, styles, general Word layouts, bullets, headings, and outlines, using templates, toolbar modifications, and using Track Changes. You may also find tips on linking Word and Excel embedded objects including charts. This site does not provide a general Word tutorial nor the basics of using a word processor. It provides specific answers to using Microsoft Word only. If you do not see your Word question answered in this area then please ask a Word question here

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Suzanne S. Barnhill

Expertise

I've been using Word for Windows since version 2.0 (1992), and the more I learn about it, the more I realize how little I know. But I may know a few things that you don't, and I'll help if I can. I answer many questions every day in Microsoft's peer support forums and as a result have been awarded the MVP (Most Valuable Professional) designation by Microsoft Corporation. You may be able to find the answer to your question at the Word MVPs' FAQ site or at my own Word FAQ site, so please check those first! Please, no questions about VBA (macros), Registry editing, networks, or complex merges, as I have no experience with these aspects of Word, nor do I have any experience with Word for Mac. Please indicate which version of Word you are using; if you are not sure, see "What version of Word do I have?".

Experience

I have a master's degree in classics (Latin), which is surprisingly helpful, though I no longer teach. The things I am proudest of: Having raised two children to maturity, both Merit Scholars, both college graduates (one a philosophy major!), one Phi Beta Kappa (from Harvard!); having been made a Paul Harris Fellow by my Rotary club; having been designated a Microsoft MVP.

Organizations
Rotary Club of Fairhope, Friends of the Fairhope Public Library

Education/Credentials
B.A. (Latin), Agnes Scott College, 1966; M.A. (Classics), Emory University, 1972.

Awards and Honors
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award every year since 1999; many Rotary honors

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