Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Office 365. 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: Adding a Dynamic Total in Your Document.
You can use Word to easily create a document that dynamically reflects changing values. For instance, you may have a document in which you have several figures mentioned. This might be a collections statement you are sending to a customer. Later you need to total these figures so you can show a total amount due. You can use bookmarks and a field to calculate the total due automatically. This is done in the following manner:
Now, any time you change the amounts that you bookmarked, the field you inserted in step 6 will automatically be updated to the correct total. (You may need to print the document to update the fields, or you may need to select the field and press F9.)
You should note that this technique will not work properly if the amounts are formatted. For instance, if the amounts you want to sum include dollar signs and commas, then these will interfere with getting a valid sum with your formula.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (11406) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Office 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Adding a Dynamic Total in Your Document.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Office 365. 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: 
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