Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Locking a Field.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 18, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Many of the tips featured in WordTips rely on the use of the special fields available in Word. Many times these fields are updated, automatically, when you make changes in a document or actually print the document. There may be times when you want to make sure a field does not get updated. You can accomplish this by locking the field. Locking prevents a field from being updated; the last result is kept until you unlock the field and then update it. To lock a field, perform these steps:
If you later want to unlock the field, follow these steps:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (383) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Locking a Field.
The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2019. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2019 For Dummies today!
Word provides several different fields you can use for custom numbering in a document. Two of the most commonly used are ...
Discover MoreWhen merging documents, you may want to include some fields in the merged documents. For some fields this is impossible, ...
Discover MoreYou can use fields for a wide variety of purposes in your documents. If you want to make sure that a field and the text ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2021-09-29 14:32:36
JP
F9 by itself is now the shortcut for updating an unlocked field.
2016-05-17 07:42:16
Christo
Locking a field:
Shift+F9 only hides or display the field.
Ctrl+F11 does nothing. what is suppose to happen?
Kind regards.
2015-09-28 19:38:57
awyatt
Sat, there is a sign-up form at the right side of any page on this site.
-Allen
2015-09-28 19:37:21
I wish to subscribe to your news letter
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.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here:
Comments