Reading old letters - date changes to current date

southinch · External Since: Oct 05, 2005 Posts: 2

When I open an old letter/document that I have inserted the date, the date
changes to the "current date". How do I sop this happening. The box is not
checked in update date and time in the Tools menu.

southinch · External Since: Oct 05, 2005 Posts: 2

Thanks to those who responded. All is now well.

"southinch" wrote:

> When I open an old letter/document that I have inserted the date, the date
> changes to the "current date". How do I sop this happening. The box is not
> checked in update date and time in the Tools menu.

Suzanne S. Barnhill · External Since: Sep 26, 2003 Posts: 24065

Your letter/document contains a DATE or TIME field. Press Alt+F9 to reveal
the field code and change DATE or TIME to CREATEDATE. Alt+F9 to toggle back
to field results and F9 to update the field. The date will then reflect the
date the document was created.

The setting of the box in the Insert | Date and Time dialog is relevant only
when you are inserting a date through that dialog. If you use the
Alt+Shift+D shortcut or the Insert Date button on the Header and Footer
toolbar, you will always insert a DATE field.

For more, see http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFms/DateFields.htm

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

"southinch" <southinch DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:622DC78C-2124-4C37-B7B4-D0BD4CF07AE8@microsoft.com...
> When I open an old letter/document that I have inserted the date, the date
> changes to the "current date". How do I sop this happening. The box is not
> checked in update date and time in the Tools menu.

Charles Kenyon · External Since: Apr 16, 2004 Posts: 2212

You are using a DATE or TIME field rather than a CREATEDATE field. This
field should be put in the original template if possible (instead of
inserting using the keyboard shortcut or header/footer toolbar button).

In the document in question, press Alt-F9 to display field codes. Then
change the field to a CREATEDATE field, press F9 and then Alt-F9.

See http://addbalance.com/word/datefields1.htm for information on the
different kinds of datefields and how to format them.

--

Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide

See also the MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/ which is awesome!
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
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"southinch" <southinch RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:622DC78C-2124-4C37-B7B4-D0BD4CF07AE8@microsoft.com...
> When I open an old letter/document that I have inserted the date, the date
> changes to the "current date". How do I sop this happening. The box is not
> checked in update date and time in the Tools menu.

Jay Freedman · External Since: Sep 16, 2003 Posts: 2317

southinch wrote:
> When I open an old letter/document that I have inserted the date, the
> date changes to the "current date". How do I sop this happening. The
> box is not checked in update date and time in the Tools menu.

Change the DATE field to a CREATEDATE field. See
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/tblsfldsfms/DateFields.htm.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org

LurfysMa · External Since: Apr 10, 2005 Posts: 248

On Wed, 5 Oct 2005 06:29:06 -0700, southinch
<southinch RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>When I open an old letter/document that I have inserted the date, the date
>changes to the "current date". How do I sop this happening. The box is not
>checked in update date and time in the Tools menu.

You have been given several suggestion all having to do with using the
creation date. Personally, I prefer another soluition. I insert a
normal date field just as you are doing. I leave it as a field until I
finish the letter or document. I rarely finish a document the same day
and I want it to reflect the date I completed the document, not the
date I started it.

When it is finished and I am ready to send it, I then use Ctrl+6 to
change it from a field to normal text. It don't change after that.

--
Running Word 2000 SP-3 on Windows 2000

Charles Kenyon · External Since: Apr 16, 2004 Posts: 2212

You can do the same thing using the CreateDate field.
--
Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide

See also the MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/ which is awesome!
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
from my ignorance and your wisdom.

"LurfysMa" <invalid.RemoveThis@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:7cc9k1dtec2jek1vqnsa70ofvq47f2ds8i@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 5 Oct 2005 06:29:06 -0700, southinch
> <southinch.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>>When I open an old letter/document that I have inserted the date, the date
>>changes to the "current date". How do I sop this happening. The box is not
>>checked in update date and time in the Tools menu.
>
> You have been given several suggestion all having to do with using the
> creation date. Personally, I prefer another soluition. I insert a
> normal date field just as you are doing. I leave it as a field until I
> finish the letter or document. I rarely finish a document the same day
> and I want it to reflect the date I completed the document, not the
> date I started it.
>
> When it is finished and I am ready to send it, I then use Ctrl+6 to
> change it from a field to normal text. It don't change after that.
>
>
> --
> Running Word 2000 SP-3 on Windows 2000

Suzanne S. Barnhill · External Since: Sep 26, 2003 Posts: 24065

No, you can't, Charles. If you work on a letter for several days, the
CreateDate is no longer the current date, which is what LurfysMa wants.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

"Charles Kenyon" <msnewsgroup.TakeThisOut@remove.no.spam.addbalance.com> wrote in
message news:OMnCv$myFHA.3180@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> You can do the same thing using the CreateDate field.
> --
> Charles Kenyon
>
> Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word
>
> Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
> Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide
>
> See also the MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/ which is awesome!
> --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
> This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
> and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
> from my ignorance and your wisdom.
>
> "LurfysMa" <invalid.TakeThisOut@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
> news:7cc9k1dtec2jek1vqnsa70ofvq47f2ds8i@4ax.com...
> > On Wed, 5 Oct 2005 06:29:06 -0700, southinch
> > <southinch.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> >>When I open an old letter/document that I have inserted the date, the
date
> >>changes to the "current date". How do I sop this happening. The box is
not
> >>checked in update date and time in the Tools menu.
> >
> > You have been given several suggestion all having to do with using the
> > creation date. Personally, I prefer another soluition. I insert a
> > normal date field just as you are doing. I leave it as a field until I
> > finish the letter or document. I rarely finish a document the same day
> > and I want it to reflect the date I completed the document, not the
> > date I started it.
> >
> > When it is finished and I am ready to send it, I then use Ctrl+6 to
> > change it from a field to normal text. It don't change after that.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Running Word 2000 SP-3 on Windows 2000
>
>

Charles Kenyon · External Since: Apr 16, 2004 Posts: 2212

Ah, I change the date to the current date using the keyboard after I freeze
the field.
--
Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide

See also the MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/ which is awesome!
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
from my ignorance and your wisdom.

"Suzanne S. Barnhill" <sbarnhill.TakeThisOut@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:up1xkwnyFHA.3172@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> No, you can't, Charles. If you work on a letter for several days, the
> CreateDate is no longer the current date, which is what LurfysMa wants.
>
> --
> Suzanne S. Barnhill
> Microsoft MVP (Word)
> Words into Type
> Fairhope, Alabama USA
> Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
> Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup
> so
> all may benefit.
>
> "Charles Kenyon" <msnewsgroup.TakeThisOut@remove.no.spam.addbalance.com> wrote in
> message news:OMnCv$myFHA.3180@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>> You can do the same thing using the CreateDate field.
>> --
>> Charles Kenyon
>>
>> Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word
>>
>> Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
>> Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide
>>
>> See also the MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/ which is awesome!
>> --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
>> This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
>> and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
>> from my ignorance and your wisdom.
>>
>> "LurfysMa" <invalid.TakeThisOut@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:7cc9k1dtec2jek1vqnsa70ofvq47f2ds8i@4ax.com...
>> > On Wed, 5 Oct 2005 06:29:06 -0700, southinch
>> > <southinch.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >>When I open an old letter/document that I have inserted the date, the
> date
>> >>changes to the "current date". How do I sop this happening. The box is
> not
>> >>checked in update date and time in the Tools menu.
>> >
>> > You have been given several suggestion all having to do with using the
>> > creation date. Personally, I prefer another soluition. I insert a
>> > normal date field just as you are doing. I leave it as a field until I
>> > finish the letter or document. I rarely finish a document the same day
>> > and I want it to reflect the date I completed the document, not the
>> > date I started it.
>> >
>> > When it is finished and I am ready to send it, I then use Ctrl+6 to
>> > change it from a field to normal text. It don't change after that.
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Running Word 2000 SP-3 on Windows 2000
>>
>>
>

Suzanne S. Barnhill · External Since: Sep 26, 2003 Posts: 24065

I do the same thing (because in most cases the CreateDate *is* what I want,
so I don't want to change my template), but LurfysMa's method would really
be more practical for the letter template I use for a client who almost
never sends letters on the day he writes them (he's an artist and often
forgets about them for weeks).

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

"Charles Kenyon" <msnewsgroup RemoveThis @remove.no.spam.addbalance.com> wrote in
message news:e$JDmjoyFHA.3860@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Ah, I change the date to the current date using the keyboard after I
freeze
> the field.
> --
> Charles Kenyon
>
> Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word
>
> Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
> Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide
>
> See also the MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/ which is awesome!
> --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
> This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
> and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
> from my ignorance and your wisdom.
>
> "Suzanne S. Barnhill" <sbarnhill RemoveThis @mvps.org> wrote in message
> news:up1xkwnyFHA.3172@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> > No, you can't, Charles. If you work on a letter for several days, the
> > CreateDate is no longer the current date, which is what LurfysMa wants.
> >
> > --
> > Suzanne S. Barnhill
> > Microsoft MVP (Word)
> > Words into Type
> > Fairhope, Alabama USA
> > Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
> > Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
newsgroup
> > so
> > all may benefit.
> >
> > "Charles Kenyon" <msnewsgroup RemoveThis @remove.no.spam.addbalance.com> wrote in
> > message news:OMnCv$myFHA.3180@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> >> You can do the same thing using the CreateDate field.
> >> --
> >> Charles Kenyon
> >>
> >> Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word
> >>
> >> Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
> >> Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide
> >>
> >> See also the MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/ which is awesome!
> >> --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
> >> This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
> >> and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
> >> from my ignorance and your wisdom.
> >>
> >> "LurfysMa" <invalid RemoveThis @invalid.invalid> wrote in message
> >> news:7cc9k1dtec2jek1vqnsa70ofvq47f2ds8i@4ax.com...
> >> > On Wed, 5 Oct 2005 06:29:06 -0700, southinch
> >> > <southinch RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >>When I open an old letter/document that I have inserted the date, the
> > date
> >> >>changes to the "current date". How do I sop this happening. The box
is
> > not
> >> >>checked in update date and time in the Tools menu.
> >> >
> >> > You have been given several suggestion all having to do with using
the
> >> > creation date. Personally, I prefer another soluition. I insert a
> >> > normal date field just as you are doing. I leave it as a field until
I
> >> > finish the letter or document. I rarely finish a document the same
day
> >> > and I want it to reflect the date I completed the document, not the
> >> > date I started it.
> >> >
> >> > When it is finished and I am ready to send it, I then use Ctrl+6 to
> >> > change it from a field to normal text. It don't change after that.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > Running Word 2000 SP-3 on Windows 2000
> >>
> >>
> >
>
>

Tim · External Since: Dec 01, 2004 Posts: 386

This is all very well but surely the user wants the date set at when he/she
uses the function. Why would Microsoft set it up this way. I use it for
lectures and use the same document week in week out. Now all my lectures look
like they're on the same day. Crazy.

"Jay Freedman" wrote:

> southinch wrote:
> > When I open an old letter/document that I have inserted the date, the
> > date changes to the "current date". How do I sop this happening. The
> > box is not checked in update date and time in the Tools menu.
>
> Change the DATE field to a CREATEDATE field. See
> http://word.mvps.org/faqs/tblsfldsfms/DateFields.htm.
>
> --
> Regards,
> Jay Freedman
> Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org
>
>
>

Graham Mayor · External Since: Jul 04, 2006 Posts: 4676

When you use the insert date function, you have the option to insert the
date to update automatically or not. It is not Microsoft's fault that you
didn't select the option you required. If you want to create a template with
automatic date insertion, use a CreateDate field.

If the lectures are individual documents, what you need to do is change the
date fields for createdate fields - ALT+F9 change {DATE \@ "d MMM yyyy"}or
{TIME \@ "d MMM yyyy"} to {CREATEDATE \@ "d MMM yyyy"} then F9 and ALT+F9.
The switches \@ "d MMM yyyy" may be different at your location.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

Tim wrote:
> This is all very well but surely the user wants the date set at when
> he/she uses the function. Why would Microsoft set it up this way. I
> use it for lectures and use the same document week in week out. Now
> all my lectures look like they're on the same day. Crazy.
>
> "Jay Freedman" wrote:
>
>> southinch wrote:
>>> When I open an old letter/document that I have inserted the date,
>>> the date changes to the "current date". How do I sop this
>>> happening. The box is not checked in update date and time in the
>>> Tools menu.
>>
>> Change the DATE field to a CREATEDATE field. See
>> http://word.mvps.org/faqs/tblsfldsfms/DateFields.htm.
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>> Jay Freedman
>> Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org