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: Entering a Name in the Header of a Locked Form.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 30, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Lynn has created a four-page form in Word. After locking the form, she would like the person completing it to enter his name in the NAME field inside a header so that his name will appear at the top of each of the pages of his completed form. Word tells her she can't do this, but she can't help but wonder if there is a workaround.
The header (as Lynn found out) is not accessible in a locked form. While a macro could be written to allow access to the header in some manner, such an approach would be overkill. The only reasonable workaround would be to follow these general steps:
That's it. When the user enters in his name, Word automatically updates the StyleRef field in the header to include that name. More information on the StyleRef field can be found elsewhere in this issue, on the WordTips site (simply look for StyleRef in the Search box on any page), or at the following page:
http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/StyleRef.htm
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (7830) 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: Entering a Name in the Header of a Locked Form.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 2013 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access) with VBA programming, using it for writing macros, automating Office applications, and creating custom applications. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2013 today!
One of the controls you can add to a Word form is a drop-down form field. This field is similar to drop-down lists used ...
Discover MoreWhen entering information into protected form fields, Word doesn't apply the formatting inherent in the AutoFormat As You ...
Discover MoreYou know you want to use form fields in your document (they are essential in creating forms, after all) but you need to ...
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