Development Matters Blog

Microsoft Word provides an extensive list of properties available for user. However, every now and then there is a need for a special property, especially when fields are used. Or so I thought.
Actually, fields aren’t used that often as one who uses them could expect. Although almost everyone has at one point in time used fields (Total number of pages, current page – these are actually fields), most of the users aren’t aware of this.

How to insert a field in a document:

In order to insert a field in a document, follow these steps:

1. Position the cursor at the place in document where you want to insert the field
2. Go to Insert > Quick Parts > Fields
3. Select from the list of available fields (left pane) and select one of their properties

That’s it. This way you can insert Author property, Create Date, Date Saved, etc.

How to create a new property and use it as a fields.

However, I found on a couple of occasions that I cannot find the property I need. For example, I needed something like Customer, Project, Technology… things that simply weren’t there. What I did – I create custom properties and used them as fields. Here is how:

1. Click Microsoft Office Button > Prepare > Properties
2. Document Properties menu and window are displayed. From Document Properties menu, select Advanced Properties
3. Click on Custom tab
4. In the Name field, type the name of your custom property (Customer in this example)
5. Select Text from the Type drop down list
6. Type in Customer’s name in the Value field
7. Click Add
   1. 
      Note: If you later want to edit this property, Add button will change to Modify when you select the property from the list of properties and change the value. It will not be available until you change it.
8. Now position the cursor at the place in document where you want to insert the field
9. Go to Insert > Quick Parts > Fields
10. Select from the list of available fields (left pane) DocProperty
11. Locate Customer property in the right pane and select it. Click OK.

That’s it.

Note: Although Word automatically updates fields, it seems that custom properties have to be updated manually. In order to do this, just right click on the field and select Update Field
Keywords: Word 2007 Property fields custom tips tricks