WD2000: Cannot Undo Automatic Field Updates

ID: Q198544

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you open a document containing a field, the field is updated automatically and you cannot undo the automatic update. This causes problems most often with Date fields.


CAUSE

By design, automatic field updates are not tracked by the Undo command.


WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods.

NOTE: Most of these methods do not work if the document has been saved after the automatic update occurred.

Method 1: Save the file in normal view.

To prevent the field from being updated when you open a document, save the document in normal view after inserting the field. If the file is saved in normal view, it will open in normal view, and the fields will not update automatically. The field should not update until you print or change views that cause Word to update the fields in your document (views that cause fields to be updated include page layout and print preview).

Method 2: Insert the date without turning on Update Automatically.

NOTE: This method inserts the date as static text, which cannot be updated.
To insert the date field without turning on the Update Automatically option, follow these steps:
  1. On the Insert menu, click Date and Time.


  2. In the Available formats list, select the date or time format you want to use.


  3. Clear the Update automatically check box.


  4. Click OK.


Method 3: Lock the field before saving the file.

Click to select the field, and then press CTRL+F11 to lock the field. To unlock a locked field, select the field and press CTRL+SHIFT+F11.

Method 4: Refer to the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

Q232805 WD2000: How to Recover a Saved Field Value


MORE INFORMATION

This problem does not occur in Word versions 6.x and 7.x.

If the intent of a date field is to record the creation date of the document, use the Create Date field, available under Field on the Insert menu, rather than a date field. The Create Date field is used most commonly in document templates to insert the current date when creating a new document. This date will not change for the life of the document.

Additional query words: lost changed 


Keywords          : kbdta wd2000 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: June 7, 1999