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)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021

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...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Changing Defaults for Text Boxes and Callouts

Do you find yourself frequently creating text boxes and callouts? This tip describes how to change the default settings ...

Discover More

Replacing and Converting in a Macro

When you use a macro to process data you always run the risk of making that data unusable by Excel. This is especially ...

Discover More

Automatically Protecting After Input

Do you want user-entered data to be immediately protected so that it cannot be changed? This can be done relatively ...

Discover More

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!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Inserting the Author Name

Did you know that Word tries to keep track of who the author of a document is? This information can be easily added to ...

Discover More

Adding a Dynamic Total in Your Document

You can use a few bookmarks and an equation field to add a dynamic total anywhere in your document. Once in place, you ...

Discover More

Using the GotoButton Field

Need to jump from one place in your document to another? One way to do this is through the user of the GotoButton field, ...

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is eight more than 9?

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.

This Site

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.