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: Inserting Summary Information.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 26, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Word keeps track of summary information for a document. You can either use this summary information, or you can ignore it. Some of the summary information is automatically created for you while other parts need to be entered manually. One of the pieces of information maintained is the author of a document. This is originally set to be the Word user name, but you can change the author name at any time. Word allows you to insert summary information such as the author's name directly in your document, and have it updated automatically if you should ever change the information. This is done by following these steps:
Figure 1. The Field dialog box.
There are many different bits of summary information you may want to include in your document. Here are a few:
| Field Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Author | Name of the document's author | |
| CreateDate | Date the document was created | |
| FileName | Document's name and location on disk | |
| FileSize | Size of the document's disk file | |
| LastSavedBy | Word user name of the last person to save the file | |
| NumChars | Total number of characters in the document | |
| NumPages | Total number of pages in the document | |
| SaveDate | Date the document was last saved | |
| Subject | Subject of the document | |
| Template | Name of the document's template | |
| Title | Document's title |
You should note that not all of these fields can be inserted by selecting the Document Information category (step 3). For instance, CreateDate and SaveDate are inserted, instead, by first selecting the Date and Time category.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (386) 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: Inserting Summary Information.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!
You can create a special header and footer page numbering scheme by using nested fields. This tip shows an example of how ...
Discover MoreInserting a date and time in your document is a snap using the tools provided in Word. Just pick the command, then ...
Discover MoreThe AUTOTEXTLIST field is one of those esoteric fields that you may know nothing about. The cool thing it does is allow ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
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