can't create custom file properties

[JustSomeGuy]

I'd like to create some custom file properties for the purpose of defining
metadata about the content of the files, so I can use 'search file
properties' to locate files with desired content...just like big time
electronic document management systems can do.

But when I open the file properties window of my docs, it doesn't let me
define any custom properties. I suspect this is because in the General tab
of file\properties, they're marked 'archive' for some unknown reason, and the
setting is greyed out and can't be changed. Where am I going wrong?

 

[Peter Jamieson]

It's not unusual for the"Attributes" in the General tab to be greyed out,
and for the Archive attribute to be checked. I doubt if it has anything to
do with this problem.

Can you open the Custom tab in File|Properties?

To Add a new property (such as a Text property, you have to type the
property name, or sleect one of the predefined ones from the list, type
ssomething in the "Value" box (you can't leave the box completely empty, but
you can type a single space if you just want a placeholder) and click Add.

If you can't do that, at what point is it going wrong? If you can get that
far, can you save the document? If not, what happens - could the document be
read-only? If you can save the document, can you see the property you just
added when you re-open the document?

Peter Jamieson

 

[Beth Melton]

What version of Word? Are you accessing the File/Properties dialog box
inside Word?

When you tried to add your custom property, did you also add a value and
then click Add? If that isn't it then can you provide more details on what
you mean by "won't let me"?

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email cannot be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Coauthor of Word 2007 Inside Out:
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9801.aspx#AboutTheBook

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/

 

[JustSomeGuy]

Word 2003 - thanks; I had overlooked entering the value; once I added a value
it worked.

 

[Beth Melton]

That's what I suspected - fools you everytime. Thanks for the follow-up.

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email cannot be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Coauthor of Word 2007 Inside Out:
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9801.aspx#AboutTheBook

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/

 

[John]

HELP! This is not related to your question, but I want to post a question on
Microsoft Office Online, and when I click New and Question, all I get is a
message that says Pop Up Blocked. Can you please help me figure out how to
ask a question? I am writing you because you had 5 posts to your question and
I figured you knew how this thing worked. Thanks in advance. John.
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Beth Melton]

You need to allow pop-ups on the page in order to see the New Post screen.
Do you see a yellow info bar below the address bar in your Browser? If so,
click on it and you'll see your options. If that's not it then you'll need
to find out how to allow access to pop-ups for your specific pop-up blocker.
For example if you are using Google's pop-up blocker you can hold Ctrl and
click the button or there's a command on the Google toolbar that will allow
them on the page.

Also, it's not a good idea to post an unmunged email address (for example
(e-mail address removed)) in the newsgroups. Those who harvest
email addresses for spam have found the newsgroups to be a goldmine for
email addresses.

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email cannot be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Coauthor of Word 2007 Inside Out:
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9801.aspx#AboutTheBook

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/