Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007 and 2010. 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 and 2010. 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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2016-07-08 10:33:23
thom
Does this also apply when using drop-down list content controls. Where there are associated values to specific display names. Definite = 2, Potential = 1, No Impact = 0
2014-09-08 12:41:12
Carol
Worked fine for me...if you want numbers formatted, try putting them in text form field with a default format. Need to be in the total field before pressing F9 to get it to recalculate.
2014-05-31 01:19:42
Stephen McBride
This did not work for me at all.
I sometimes got only the first bookmark that I add and sometimes got nothing.
Is there anything special that I am missing like space between AMount1 Amount 2
2012-03-05 02:00:00
JB Shaik
Good tip. In fact I am searching for a tip that to calculate total of values in a column of a table as in Excel 2007. Is there any other way?
2012-03-03 07:33:13
General Ledger
Once again, Word does not fail to disappoint.
"This technique will not work properly if the amounts are formatted." Is there a work around for this?
Will this technique work for dates? Can you subtract one date from another and get the number of days inbetween? Not likely.
After more than two decades, Word remains not much more than electronic typewriter.
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.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007 and 2010. 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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