Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Referencing Fields in Another Document.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 19, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016
Tierney is trying to link fields in two different documents. For example, in an application document the applicant enters their name, business, the initial date and several other simple pieces of information. She would like the information in these fields to automatically populate fields in a separate word document.
Perhaps the easiest way to accomplish this task is to use the INCLUDETEXT field. This field allows you to include text from one document in another. In Tierney's case, you begin by making sure that the text you want to include from the application document has bookmarks that define it. For instance, you could define a bookmark that notes the applicant's name (perhaps AppName) and another for the applicant's business (perhaps AppBusiness). If the application document is named Application.doc, then you could use the following field in the other document:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here:
{ INCLUDETEXT "c:\\myfolder\\Application.doc" AppName }
The field indicates the absolute path to the application document, along with the name of the bookmark that defines the text you want to include. (You should replace "myfolder" with the name of the folder in which Application.doc is stored.) Note, as well, that the path to the document must include double backslashes instead of single backslashes.
You can include as many bookmarked fields from the application document in the other documents as you want, just use a separate INCLUDETEXT field for each piece of information you want to reference.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (10803) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Referencing Fields in Another Document.
Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!
You can place dynamic fields into many parts of your document. If your document contains a lot of fields, you might ...
Discover MoreThe AUTOTEXTLIST field is one of those esoteric fields that you may know nothing about. The cool thing it does is it ...
Discover MoreThe RD field can be handy for pulling together a bunch of documents into a single file. However, using the field can play ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2017-11-25 09:52:16
Sharon
The only problem I see with using the INCLUDETEXT field is if you need to send the 2nd document to someone, I believe they would get an error message unless they had both documents and in the same directory name.
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 © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments