Turning Off AutoComplete for Dates

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 24, 2018)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

Liz 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.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (229) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Enlarging Screen Font Size

Sometimes things appearing on the screen are a bit too small to read easily. One possible solution is to adjust the size ...

Discover More

Embossing Text

Word can make your text look as if it has been embossed on the page.

Discover More

Adjusting Column Width Using the Ribbon

If you want to resize the width of your table columns, you can do it using a mouse, but you can get more precise widths ...

Discover More

Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2013. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word 2013 Step by Step today!

More WordTips (menu)

Sharing AutoText Entries in a Network

Creating AutoText entries can be a great way to improve your productivity with Word. At some point you may want to share ...

Discover More

Restoring or Recreating AutoText Entries

When you first install Word, it includes a number of pre-defined AutoText entries. If you delete any of these entries ...

Discover More

AutoText Entries Don't Stick

AutoText can be a great tool, but it is of little worth if you can't get Word to remember the AutoText entries you ...

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is six more than 3?

2016-02-28 01:34:04

spam

"Unfortunately, there is no way to do this"

Any more tips?!

2014-06-07 01:11:48

Iris Wood

I have it turned on and cant turn it off even if I revert to default. How can I turn it offf please?

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.