Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. 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: Inserting a Document's Location.

Inserting a Document's Location

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 9, 2024)

It is often handy to insert the location of a document into your document itself. For instance, you may want the footer of your document to include an indication of a document's file name, along with the full path for the file. You can do this easily by following these steps if you are using Word 2002 or a later version:

Position the insertion point where you want the file name inserted.
Display the Insert tab of the ribbon.
Click the Quick Parts tool in the Text group. Word displays some choices below the tool.
Click Field. Word displays the Field dialog box.
Choose Document Information from the Categories list (top left corner of the dialog box). (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Field dialog box.

Select FileName from the Field Names list.
Click on the Field Codes button. Word modifies the display of the dialog box.
Click Options. Word displays the Field Options dialog box.
Click on the Field Specific Switches tab. (See Figure 2.)

Figure 2. The Field Specific Switches tab of the Field Options dialog box.

Choose the \p option. (This causes the path of the file name to be included in the field results.)
Click on Add to Field.
Click on OK to close the Field Options dialog box.
Click on OK to close the Field dialog box and insert the field.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (12915) 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 a Document's Location.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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What is four more than 3?

2020-06-01 16:25:23

B_PARKER

Re: Inserting a Document's Location. I use this for every document I create.

I'm curious, why go through steps 7 through 13, when it can be done in two steps?

After Step 6, when FileName is selected, a selection box "Field Options" appears on the right of the screen which allows you to Add path to filename. Just check the box and select OK.

Steps 7 through 13 in the example appear unnecessary unless I am missing something?

I'm new to your newsletters (Word and Excel) and find them very interesting.

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