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: Converting Field Results to Text.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 4, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Special fields have a great number of uses in Word. You already know that you can use fields to insert everything from the date and time to summary information for a document. There may be times, however, when you don't want to use a field for information.
As an example, let's say that you have a template that includes a field for today's date in it. When you create a document based on the template, today's date appears in the document. You make changes to the document, and then save it to disk. When you later open the document, instead of the original date, it contains the date of when you opened the file.
To get around this, you need to change the field contents to plain text before you save the file. In this instance, you would follow these steps:
That's it. The next time you open the document, the date remains unchanged. You can also use this technique with any other field to convert it to text.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1035) 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: Converting Field Results to Text.
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!
One of the properties you can specify for a document is a subject. You can then use a field code to insert this subject, ...
Discover MoreWord keeps track of each time you print your document, and you can automatically insert the last printing date anywhere ...
Discover MoreInserting a date and time in your document is a snap using the tools provided in Word. Just pick the command, then ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2023-01-02 15:00:45
Paul Robinson
The CTRL+SHIFT+F9 does not work in my copy of office 2010
2022-06-16 04:25:05
Mahzad
Thanks a lot. i used it for references (Bibliography).
2021-08-17 05:08:06
Benyamin Limanto
Well. this tips is very good! I have hard time to convert references field to add DOI url for my paper, welp O365 Word right click doesn't provide any help or anything regarding convert to plain text, not as the same as right click on the citation itself. well this website always surprise me! Thank you Mr. Allen!
2020-09-29 15:44:06
Tony
This is great. Do you know if there is a way to do this to all mail merge fields in a document in a single action?
Cheers!
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 © 2026 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