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

Selecting Fonts for a Chart

Microsoft Chart uses text to label items in a chart. Here's how to change the font used for that text.

Discover More

Inverting Colors in a Document

Visual impairments can present severe challenges in accessing information stored in a Word document. There are some ...

Discover More

Understanding SmartArt

SmartArt provides a way to add classy presentation graphics to your document. Here's a high-level explanation of what you ...

Discover More

Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Changing a Field Parameter

Fields are a powerful way to add dynamic content to your documents. Some fields rely on the use of parameters to control ...

Discover More

Referencing Fields in Another Document

Sometimes you may have two documents that are so integrally related to each other that the one document may require the ...

Discover More

Inserting a Cross-Reference to the Last Style on a Page

It is often helpful to reference a specific heading in the header or footer of a page and have that reference change on ...

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 five more than 7?

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.