Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 8, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365
Vladimir knows that he can put a document's filename into the header of a page. What he would like, though, is to only have the last five characters of the filename (exclusive of the filename extension) appear in the header. He is casting about for the best way to accomplish the task.
The only way to do this is by using a macro; there is no built-in functionality in Word to accomplish the task. The macro needs to determine the filename, grab the characters desired, and then stuff then into the header. There are potential complications with something that might seem so simple, though. For instance, what if the document hasn't been saved and therefore has no filename yet? What if the document has been saved, but there are fewer than five characters in the filename? What should the macro do if there is already something in the header? What should it do if the user is looking at the document in a view that doesn't display headers?
To deal with such questions, the macro needs to make some assumptions. For this example, we'll assume that the macro should simply replace whatever existing header there is with the desired portion of the filename. Further, the macro can switch the viewing mode to Print Layout view so the header is easy to work with. Here's the result:
Sub PartFilenameInHeader() Dim sName As String Dim J As Long sName = ActiveDocument.Name J = InStrRev(sName, ".") If J > 0 Then sName = Left(sName, J - 1) If Len(sName) > 5 Then sName = Right(sName, 5) End If If ActiveWindow.View.SplitSpecial <> wdPaneNone Then ActiveWindow.Panes(2).Close End If If ActiveWindow.ActivePane.View.Type = wdNormalView Or ActiveWindow. _ ActivePane.View.Type = wdOutlineView Then ActiveWindow.ActivePane.View.Type = wdPrintView End If ActiveWindow.ActivePane.View.SeekView = wdSeekCurrentPageHeader Selection.WholeStory Selection.Delete Selection.TypeText Text:=sName ActiveWindow.ActivePane.View.SeekView = wdSeekMainDocument Else MsgBox "Document has no filename extension." End If End Sub
The macro first checks to ensure that the document has a real filename (from the .Name property of the ActiveDocument object). If so, then it pulls five (or fewer) characters from the filename. It checks to make sure there are not multiple panes open and that the document is in Print Layout view. It then selects whatever is currently in the header and replaces it with the desired characters from the filename.
Understand that the macro should be run once after saving the document and once again if you ever save the document using a different filename.
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13316) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2013. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word 2013 Step by Step today!
Need to get headers and footers from one document to another? You can use the steps in this tip to help make quick work ...
Discover MoreSome folks like to avoid using the mouse whenever possible, preferring to leave their hands on the keyboard. If you are ...
Discover MoreAdding a running header or footer to a document can be a nice touch. If you want, you can even tell Word to use a ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
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.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments