WD: WinWord: ASK Fields with Default Answers Prompt First

ID: Q82091

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Word, if you supply a field as a default answer for an ASK field (by using the \d switch within the ASK field) that field is updated by an AutoNew macro before any other ASK fields in your document are updated.

This behavior can cause problems if the ASK field containing the default answer is not physically the first field in the template. If it is not the first field, the field prompts you for information twice. It is updated first and then again in order of its physical location in the template. If the prompts are answered differently, Word uses the second reply in the document.

NOTE: The use of fields as default answers to ASK fields in Word for Windows version 1.x does not cause this reaction when the AutoNew macro runs.

MORE INFORMATION

ASK fields are generally used in template files in conjunction with an AutoNew macro. When you create a new document based on such a template, the fields are automatically updated so that they prompt you for appropriate answers to be filled in at the bookmark locations.

If you use the \d switch within an ASK field to supply another field as the default answer when the prompt appears, an AutoNew macro runs on that ASK field first (regardless of its position in the document).

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. From the File menu, choose New, select the Template option button,

   and choose the OK button to create a new template file based on
   Normal.dot.

2. Press CTRL+F9 to create the field braces, and insert the following

   fields:

      {ask to "Who is this memo to?"}{to}
      {ask from "Who is it from?"}{from}
      {ask today "Is today's date correct?  If not, type in
      the correct date." \d {date}}{today}
      {ask hour "Time?" \d {time}}{hour}

3. From the File menu, choose Save, type a name for the template, and

   choose the OK button.

4. From the Tools menu, choose macro and record, type a name for the macro,

   and choose the record button.  Select the Macro available To and choose
   the OK button.  Record the following steps:

   a. From the Edit menu, choose Select All.

   b. Press the F9 key.

   c. Cancel the dialog boxes.

   d. From the tools menu, select Macro and choose Stop Recording.

5. From the File menu, choose Close, then choose the Yes button when

   prompted to save changes to the template.

6. From the File menu, choose New, select the template name assigned

   in step 3, select the Document option button, then choose the OK
   button.

   The order of prompts is as follows:

      Date
      Time
      To
      From
      Date
      Time

   In Word version 6.0, in Page Layout view, the order of prompts is:

      Date
      Time
      Date
      Time
      To
      From
      Date
      Time

   The order of prompts should be as follows:

      To
      From
      Date
      Time

Because the default answers to the ASK fields are reserved fields, DATE and TIME, the AutoNew macro causes them to be updated first rather than in the appropriate order.

Reference(s):

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 646-650, 763-765, 786

KBCategory: kbusage KBSubcategory: kbfield Additional query words: 6.0a 2.0 2.0a 6.0 6.0a 6.0c winword2 word7 word6 6.0c 7.0 word95 winword word97

Keywords          : kbualink97 kbusage kbfield 
Version           : 2.x 6.0 6.0a 6.0c 7.0 7.0a
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: February 6, 1998