Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 7, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Word keeps track of a good deal of information about your document, and then makes that information available to you. One of the pieces of information tracked is the document creation date. This is the date when the file was first created (opened as a new file) or the last time you chose Save As and saved the file under a new name. Word allows you to insert this date into your document by following these steps:
Figure 1. The Field dialog box.
This type of date field is a big help when you are using dates with memos, letters, and reports. The date stays the same as when you first created the file, unless (again) you save the file under a new name, which changes the file creation date.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (9299) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Inserting the Document Creation Date.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2013. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word 2013 Step by Step today!
Tired of messing with inserting the date and then changing it to a format that is more to your liking? There's a quick ...
Discover MoreA field can be locked or unlocked, and its condition controls whether it is updated automatically or not. If you want to ...
Discover MoreWord keeps track of many statistics for each of your documents. One statistic is the total number of pages in the printed ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2024-11-07 08:30:46
Kiwerry
@dann: If you have a minute, please explain to non-archivists why saving the creation date of a file visibly inside a document is a problem; I am assuming that the date will be suitably labelled af "File creation date" or similar.
2021-04-11 01:49:05
dann
This feature is an Archivist's nightmare. If you work for a government agency or any other type of organisation that is legally required to keep historical records and documentation, do NOT do this.
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu 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.
Comments