Turning Off AutoComplete for Dates

Summary: The AutoComplete feature shows you suggestions based on the first few characters you type in a word. The suggestion may be full dates, or it could be AutoText entries, or any number of other helpful suggestions. Word doesn't allow you to turn off just some of the many AutoComplete suggestions you may see, but this tip discusses how you can still access AutoText if you do decide to turn off AutoCorrect. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, and Word 2003.)

Liz Francis asked if there was a way to turn off AutoComplete for dates, but leave the rest of AutoComplete available for use with her many AutoText entries.

Unfortunately, there is no way to do this--it is an all-or-nothing proposition with AutoComplete. If you turn it off (Insert | AutoText | AutoText | Show AutoComplete Suggestions), you won't see the "hints" for AutoText. However, just because you turn AutoComplete off doesn't mean you cannot access your AutoText. If you know the starting few characters of an AutoText entry, all you need to do is type the first few letters and then press F3. Word springs into action and expands the AutoText entry the same as if you had used AutoComplete to expand it.

Tip #229 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

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Turning Off AutoComplete for Dates