Smartfields in Word - changing?

[Shaun Allan]

We have some Word report templates with a user form as you
open them which asks certain information such as
Inspector, item, date etc. The information is then put in
certain places on the report. The date and item number
are placed on the top section of the first page, and also
in the footer. This all works fine.

Sometimes, a group of items are in very similar condition,
and the reports are virtually identical, so a report can
be effectively copied and just the item number changed.
Unfortunately, this doesn't update the fields, cos it's
being directly entered on the report. How can I, for
example, change the item number on a report and have the
same date in the footoer (or wherever) automatically
update - even on print if not immediately?

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Shaun,

Sometimes, a group of items are in very similar condition,
and the reports are virtually identical, so a report can
be effectively copied and just the item number changed.
Unfortunately, this doesn't update the fields, cos it's
being directly entered on the report. How can I, for
example, change the item number on a report and have the
same date in the footoer (or wherever) automatically
update - even on print if not immediately?

Note that I'm not 100% certain I follow everything. But to
answer this last question: Tools/Options/Print, activate the
option to update fields.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep
30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow
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[Guest]

The problem seems to be that when the info is changed,
it's not actually editing the field. If we do an update
field, say on the right click, it reverts back to the
original data.

For example. If, in the form, we say the item is 23E01A,
and it enters that on the report, then we wanted to create
a similar report for 23E01B, we'd change this manually on
the report, but it doesn't appear to update the field, so
an Update Fields just reverts back to the 01A.

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

The problem seems to be that when the info is changed,

it's not actually editing the field. If we do an update
field, say on the right click, it reverts back to the
original data.

For example. If, in the form, we say the item is 23E01A,
and it enters that on the report, then we wanted to create
a similar report for 23E01B, we'd change this manually on
the report, but it doesn't appear to update the field, so
an Update Fields just reverts back to the 01A.

I'm afraid I can't say anything on the subject since I have
absolutely no idea how these documents are set up. You don't
mention the version of Word, nor what kinds of fields they
are... nothing.

I get the feeling that you should be talking to the
person/company that created this report functionality for
you.

As a general remark I can say that you can't simply edit a
field result and expect that to remain static. When fields
update, they update to display what their internal codes tell
them to show. The information is being picked up from
somewhere. Possibly, you could DELETE the fields so that all
the information is static.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep
30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow
question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail