How to Add the Filename and Path to a Word 2007 Document
March 25th, 2008 | by Loren |You also might want to look at
Word 2007 DIY: Insert a Footer with File Name & Path in Two Clicks and Word 2007: How to Assign a Keyboard Shortcut to the Insert File Name & Path.
You can use a field code to show a document’s file name and path in a Word document header, footer, or anywhere else in the document.
Steps to Insert a Document’s Filename
- Move your cursor to where the filename should appear.
- In the Insert tab, Text group, click the Quick Parts button, then choose Field.
- In the Field box, change the Categories: to Document Information.
- In the Field Names: list, choose FileName.
- If you want the path included, under Field Option, check the Include the Path box.
- In the Field Properties section, you can specify the format, ie. uppercase, lowercase, for how the path/filename displays.
Steps to Save the Filename Code as a Quick Part
- Select the code you inserted in the above steps. (It will turn gray if you click on it, that’s just indicating that it’s a field. You need to actually select it by dragging the mouse across the entire path, or Ctrl + Click on it.)
- On the Insert tab, Text group, click Quick Parts, then click Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery.
- In the box that appears, type in an understandable name, like filename and path or filepath, then click OK to save.
To use it in another document, move the cursor to where you want to insert the filename and path, go to Insert tab, Text group, click Quick Parts, it should be displayed in the gallery list. Another way to insert a Quick Part is to type the name of it into the document, then immediately push F3. If you like the keyboard technique, you want keep the name you use short and easy to remember.
This field will show whatever the filename or path is in whatever document it is in. If it does not update, right-click on it and click Update Field.
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98 Responses to “How to Add the Filename and Path to a Word 2007 Document”
By Mary Shea Hagebols on Jan 26, 2010 | Reply
I have opposite problem.
I think,
I want path and file name at end of every document
I do I set up to do this automatically.
Thanks
By Christy on Jan 25, 2010 | Reply
I don’t think I’ve ever been so frustrated by a piece of software as Word 2007…and I’ve been using computers daily since 1984. What’s left of my hair thanks you profusely!
By Cecilia on Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
Hi,
This site looks amazing..
Do you have a similar site for Access 2007?
By Loren on Jan 11, 2010 | Reply
Hi Jim – are you sure you don’t have the “Print document properties” option turned on? That would cause it to print what you describe. You can find it through the Office Button, Word Options, Display, then under Printing Options.
Hope that helps.
By Jim Waldroop on Jan 11, 2010 | Reply
How do I turn this option OFF? All I wanted was to be able to insert the filename and path from time to time. now it prints an additional page with all sorts of info on it like total editing time, change number, etc.
By Loren on Dec 28, 2009 | Reply
Hi Barbara – if the path is showing up in every document, it may be saved in the normal.dotm template. This is the template file that every new Word document is based upon.
To edit normal.dotm, click the Office button, then Open. The folder list on the left should have Templates or Trusted Templates; normal.dotm should show in the file list when you choose one of those. Open it, be sure the title bar shows that file name. Find the file name code in the document and delete it. Save and close the file. When you start a new blank document in Word now, the file name should not be in there.
If there are other changes you would like in all your Word docs, you could make them while you have the normal template open.
Hope that helps!
By Barbara Trimmer on Dec 28, 2009 | Reply
How do I delete filename and path so it does not print on every document?
Please help
By Richard Molitor on Dec 9, 2009 | Reply
How do I show the file & path name on the Word screen, so that I can send the link to the document to other people, without having to send the document forwards and backwards?
By Abraham Kohn on Nov 29, 2009 | Reply
Thank you
By Tammy Gehl on Nov 23, 2009 | Reply
How do you stop it from printing once it is? It is printing on all my documents!!!!
By Wendy on Nov 10, 2009 | Reply
Fields are great but how do you stop Word adding the .docx at the end of a filename field?
By Kerrick on Nov 5, 2009 | Reply
Well……… I finally got it but man…. it was a chore. I do remember the old “WordPerfect” days. But Mr. Gates and crew have this thing locked up and we kind of have to uses what the rest of the world is using.
By Mame on Oct 27, 2009 | Reply
This is a classic example of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. It was simple before and now it’s convoluted with LOTS of steps. I just don’t get it why take things from step to difficult?
By nadia on Oct 21, 2009 | Reply
I agree the old version was much simpler, just one click…i found the solution but what a waste of my life…
By Susan on Oct 20, 2009 | Reply
Nice help, but why did you have to make it so hard to find this stuff in the first place. Are you trying to drive us all mad?
By Sarah O on Oct 20, 2009 | Reply
Very easy to follow instructions. Thank you for including steps to add to Quick Access Toolbar, makes my job easier!
By Tova on Sep 22, 2009 | Reply
RE By STEVE on Aug 14, 2009
[...] Can’t wait for someone to come up with a new office suite that does what we want it to do.
Reply: Someone did. It’s called WordPerfect, it’s been around since long before Word was a gleam in BG’s eye, and sadly, it’s been pushed out as Word gains global dominance. Boo.
By Denis Rochon on Sep 20, 2009 | Reply
I found the solution : I have to use the English word “Filename”. The others are translated but not this one.
By Denis Rochon on Sep 20, 2009 | Reply
Funny (or not funny) that when I hit the Field box under Quick Parts I don’t see FileName in the list, nor the category Document Information (or the equivalent in French since I use a French version of Word). Any help?
By Jeffrey McPherson on Sep 17, 2009 | Reply
Whats up with this? I thought update, new versions of applicatons were supposed to be about moving forward. Progress. Ease. Functionality?
Fire the creators of this crud, give me my old product back, add all you want, BUT DONT REMOVE, TAKE AWAY or BURY what used to be simple functionality.
Why cant I just add a file path address with one click?
Why am I driven to type you this feedback? I AM A POWER-USER by every definition. This is really dissapointing.
By Robert on Sep 17, 2009 | Reply
I agree with Glenn (Sep 9), spot-on. Adding filename to the footer _used to be_ standard no-brainer easy-to-get-to option! This is much used, how could it have been dropped out?
Also, I would have figured that with this new version of MS Word the filename footer would have been a _variable_ so it changes if you change the file’s name – and have it appear in red to show you that it changed (and heck even have a change history).
By brettbum on Sep 11, 2009 | Reply
I am one of those few people that really like Microsoft products, but this is just really stupid functionality.
They don’t even offer what used to be the web address display option any more at the top of a document, so you could just copy and past the path anytime you liked.
By Glenn on Sep 9, 2009 | Reply
Dear MS…congratulations…maybe it’s just me, or mayby you realy have improved the product to the point where I need to search help to add something SIMPLE like the File Name and Path to the footer, so as client store docs on their systems, they can find where it came from. What was wrong with the previous version…click, choose from the drop down, and DONE!! Too simple, too easy. Where is that OpenOffice.org set of free apps??
By Loren on Sep 8, 2009 | Reply
Hi Sal – it sounds like the field codes are displaying rather than filename/path. Try clicking inside the code, then pushing Shift + F9. That should toggle between the code and the filename/path.
Hope that helps!
By Sal Monelli on Sep 8, 2009 | Reply
I followed the instructions listed above. Everything entered as the instructions suggested. It was pretty complicated to accomplish, though.
However, the actual path/filename does not display, only some code that looks like the code that should be able to conjure up the path/filename.
Why won’t the actual path and filename display instead of the gibberish? Any suggestions, please?
Sal
By Carol on Sep 4, 2009 | Reply
Re: Inserting filename w/path using Vista’s version of Word:
%#@#^? ##@%#&^!!!!
I hope all the Microsoft employees who had anything to do with Vista are in the unemployment percentile.
Further, I don’t think that those of us unfortuneate enough to have paid for Vista should have to pay for the upgrade to Word 7. NOT FAIR, MICROSOFT!!!
By Joe Valentine on Sep 2, 2009 | Reply
My apologies if this is already included here somewhere – I don’t seem to see it. I’m able to insert the file name using the Quick Parts FileName field, but checking the “Add path to filename” check box has no effect – I still just get the file name without a path. It works fine on my computer at home, but at work – no good. Any ideas?
By Jim Thorpe on Sep 1, 2009 | Reply
An appalling example of software design.
If you do allow your designers back from their own planet, make sure they learn SSA.
MS products are not long for my world.
The damage to my work environment from Word 2007 is immense.
By Jay DiFrank on Aug 26, 2009 | Reply
How incredibly difficult this has become!!! Too many clicks/boxes to get through! So that you can make it what MS consideres idot proof this product has become so cumbersome and too time consuming to use. Let people have to think for themselves and return it to a quicker-to-use application!!!!
By D Johanson on Aug 25, 2009 | Reply
this is so cool, I was pulling my hair out but when I found this it works so well, thanks
By STEVE on Aug 14, 2009 | Reply
Well, as I have aways said, office is getting too clever for its own good. Simple tasks getting more and more complex while BG earns more money making us upgrade, relearn and pull our hair out!!
Can’t wait for someone to come up with a new office suite that does what we want it to do.
By MLN on Aug 13, 2009 | Reply
I’d like to insert the file location (containing folder) ONLY – no filename or extention… Is there a way to do that? Can’t find it for the life of me! Many thanks in advance
By A.Saywell on Aug 6, 2009 | Reply
I agree with Jim Huddle May 2009 comment this was soo simple & now too many commands to get the job done…put it back the ways it was please….
By Phillip Clark on Jul 22, 2009 | Reply
I agree with Miller. I have tried to get the filename that was inserted into the document to update with the new file name and it does not do it. I also agree with other writters – this version of Work / Office has made work processes un-necessarliy difficult.
By sue on Jul 21, 2009 | Reply
Hi – thanks for your tip – can you also put page nos with filename and path – setting the page nos to the right of the page – ?
By Steve Law on Jul 8, 2009 | Reply
Came across your website by accident whilst hunting through various ‘help’ pages….
Many thanks for making this information available – truly very much appreciated
Far too helpful to have a chance of a job with Uncle Bill…..
By Ben Stern on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply
Thanks, Loren. You saved me lots of time. Ben
By Loren on Jun 11, 2009 | Reply
Hi Ben – In Word 2007 you can find the document properties, including the path, by clicking the Office Button, then Prepare. Properties will be at the top of the Prepare menu.
Hope that helps!
By Ben Stern on Jun 10, 2009 | Reply
Can someone just tell me how to FIND the path of a document. I can’t even do that? I don’t know where properties (from Word 2003) can be found in 2007.
By Amy Squillacote on Jun 9, 2009 | Reply
I just found the following description of how (using macros) to insert the file name without the file extension.
http://www.techtalkz.com/microsoft-office/121003-insert-filename-without-extension-doc-using-fields.html
By kyle@yahoo.com on Jun 9, 2009 | Reply
can you tell me how to get filename from layout?
By Loren on Jun 2, 2009 | Reply
Hi Anamaria – that question has come up a couple times. I’ve searched to see if there are any other switches that could be applied to the filename field beyond the capitalization and path, but can not find nothing else.
That doesn’t mean it can’t be done, but I don’t know how to truncate the path with the fields used in this tutorial.
Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
By Anamaria on Jun 2, 2009 | Reply
Loren, how do I truncate the path? I don’t need the whole thing.
thanks.
By Richard on May 31, 2009 | Reply
For Loren:
From a frustrated old man who learned everything about the Old Word and is incessed with MS for the changes they made in the New Word (and Vista) that makes everything so much more complicated but not necessarily better, much thanks. Your instructions are crystal clear, easy to understand and so very, very helpful. Keep up the good work.
By Terri on May 28, 2009 | Reply
Most everything in Word 2007 has become more difficult including this. arghh.
By P. McDermott on May 26, 2009 | Reply
I agree with the many comments about header/footer and insertion of filenams, date, page numbers etc which were so easy in WORD earlier versions. WHY have you made it so more complex it is completely ridiculous. Please bring back the old system, it wasn’t “broke” so didn’t need changing! Another Microsoft backward step.
By Anamaria on May 26, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for the tutorial. It’s very helpful and I had no trouble making it work.
What I need to do now is to insert only part of the path. The full path makes the footer way too long and provides essentially unnecessary information – we all know what drive it’s on, etc. Can you help me with this one?
Thanks so much.
By Loren on May 18, 2009 | Reply
Sure Chuck –
Follow the “Steps to Insert a Document’s Filename” at the beginning of the directions.
Follow “Steps to Save the Filename Code as a Quick Part.” At step 3, after you type in a name for the Quick Part that already has a Quick Part assigned to it, you will be asked “If you want to redefine…” (Not exactly sure of the wording), say Yes to resave the changed Quick Part under the original name. From then on it should have the correct capitalization when you insert it.
Hope that explains it OK, good luck with it!
By Chuck P on May 18, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for the message, but I wonder if you could actually walk me through the steps you’re indicating. I can’t figure out the “resave as a Quick Part” portion of the instructions. I can see how to change the filepath in an individual document (to produce the desired formatting, with initial capitals) but I don’t know how to make it work that way in other documents automatically. Any help is appreciated . . . Thanks!
By Loren on May 17, 2009 | Reply
Hi Chuck P. – glad to hear the directions worked for you. If you want to change how the filepath displays, probably the simplest thing would be to insert the field with correct capitalization chosen, then resave it as a Quick Part.
Hope that helps.
By Chuck P on May 17, 2009 | Reply
I was able to create the filepath name and I use it by typing “filepath” and then touching F3. (Thanks, it works well!) However, I want to make a slight edit to the way it displays, and I can’t figure out how to get into the Quick Part to do so. (I want to change from “no caps” to “initial caps” in the name.) Thanks for any help you can provide.
By Jim Huddle on May 15, 2009 | Reply
You guys have made this WAY too difficult. I used to be able to add path, filename, date, time, page number and number of pages in about 2 seconds. Now, it is a royal nightmare to figure out how to do so.
I did eventually figure out how to use the ‘building blocks’ and create what I wanted. Hopefully, I’ll be able to find it next time I need it.
By Stefan on May 14, 2009 | Reply
I have seen lot’s of tipps for filename and path insertion. What I am missing is a way to insert just the document name omitting the ending (.doc).
Is there any possibility to do so?
By caroline on Apr 24, 2009 | Reply
I completely agree, I can’t believe how hard it has become to put the file name and path in. The ‘help’ in Word didn’t help and it took me three websites to find this very long winded way to do something that used to be so easy!
By Sal Bonello on Apr 22, 2009 | Reply
Perfect – thanks!
By Julie on Apr 18, 2009 | Reply
Why have you made it HARDER to add a filename and path??
Don’t say that Office 2007 has been made easier in this respect because it HASNT!!
Why fix something that is not broken…
Now I have to put it myself in normal.dot or something??
It was so much easier to have it in the footer option, should not have been changed, just my two cents.
Next time you bring out a new office suite Please make this easier….again
By Thuy on Mar 31, 2009 | Reply
very good guideline
By Stephen W. Klute on Mar 28, 2009 | Reply
I am so mad!! I always put filename and path on my docs. With this new version, I can’t figure it out! It used to be so easy.
Please show me an EASY way.
By Loren on Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Hello Jim – that is an excellent question. The short answer is that you edit the normal.dotm template to include the filename and path. Normal.dotm is what Word bases every new document on.
I’m going to write up more specific “how to” directions within the next couple days, so please check back for them.
Sorry to not give you an immediate answer, but I think the more detailed directions will be more helpful.
Thanks again!
By Loren on Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Hello Jon – are you working in Word 2007? And you want to insert a photo and insert a hyperlink that includes the name and path to the photo? It sounds like you have the process worked out pretty well.
One thing you could try is to position your Word doc and window of photos next to each other, so you can see both.
To create a link to a photo, right-click a photo and drag it into the Word window, when you release the mouse button, choose Create Hyperlink Here. That will make a link that shows the full path to the photo.
You can insert a photo the same way, but left-click and drag it into Word.
If you just want the path and file name, you could insert it the same way, then right-click the link and choose Remove hyperlink.
Hope that helps, good luck with your project!
By Jim Jobin on Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
Is there a way you can teach me how, by default every new Word document I create will always have the footer that lists the filename and path?
Thanks so much for your help. Also, do you offer a book I can buy?
By Jon Gillenwater on Feb 18, 2009 | Reply
I needed directions on how to import photos and the path+filename when I ran across this info. This solved a problem that I hadn’t realized I had!
I am inserting a photo, then following that with a left click on the mouse for a hyper-link to paste the path and file name of the photo. I click the “recent files” and pick from the top of the list. Then I click on the hyper-link to verify that it was the same photo. Is that the best way to paste and label photos, or is there a faster process?
By Loren on Feb 12, 2009 | Reply
Hi Sara – you only want the file name in the header or footer on the last page, right?
What you need in order to have a different footer is a section break inserted somewhere on the page before. Then you can choose to have the footer be “Same as previous” or not.
Go to your second to last page in the document. If the text in you document is still going to change from revisions, move your cursor somewhere in the middle of the page and in the Page Layout tab, Page Setup group, choose Breaks, then Continuous.
Now go into the last page footer, and in the Header & Footer Tools, Design tab, click Link to Previous to turn it off. Now whatever you put into the footer on the last page won’t appear on all pages.
Hope that helps and makes sense! Good luck!
By Sara on Feb 12, 2009 | Reply
I have finally figured out how to get the filename and path thanks to everyone! Now my next question is…how do you get it so it only goes on the last page of the document? I see that their are 2 options…first page different (which only the first page doesn’t have it) and different odd and even pages. It’s difficult when I have a long document. Any ideas?
By Trent Bergsten on Dec 30, 2008 | Reply
Check out this link for answers on why the filename field doesn’t auto update.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/832897
(Edit: This support doc from MS gives directions on how to create a macro to update fields, like FileName.)
By Loren on Dec 2, 2008 | Reply
Hello Donna – let me refer you to the article Word 2007: Make Updating Fields Easier. It’s not perfect, but it’s only way I know to get fields to update by using what’s built into Word. Hope you find it helpful.
By Donna Hawkins on Dec 2, 2008 | Reply
How do you get a filename and path (in a Word 2007 footnote) to update AUTOMATICALLY after doing such things as changing the filename or the file location? It works in Excel, but all I can find in Word to update these fields is an instruction to right-click on the field and choose Update Field. That works, but it is not automatic. Thanks for any help you can provide.
By Stephanie on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
I just have to say one thing, whatever Microsoft was thinking when they changed the original easy process to insert the file name and path to the current process, they were not thinking of the end user. What was once such an easy thing to do, it now a terrible pain!
Hey Microsoft, your newest version of Windows stinks!
By Kimberlee on Nov 25, 2008 | Reply
I absolutely agree with Denise and Harriett. I’ve just been using 07 and what an annoyance. I’m an advanced/power user and the change in menus makes little sense. All the extra time searching through menus to find what used to be simple is one thing, but add all the extra clicks just to perform a task is such an annoying waste of time. For example switching text to table and table to text…in two different locations!
I’ve spent way too much time in the help menu just trying to find the command which was not required in the prior versions. Of course there some new bells and whistles, but who did the user interaction studies?
By Lorna on Nov 16, 2008 | Reply
Loren,,
Many thanks for the quick response!
Later after I’d emailed you, I was looking at some other instructions in your website about footnotes and I saw a caution that said you have to select the filename by dragging the mouse over it, not just by single-click selection.
When I did that, Eureka! the greyed-out option turned black and I completed the Filename Insertion.
Now, if only WORD would put in a WordPerfect style Reveal Codes. . .!
many thanks again for all your help in Coffee Break
By Loren on Nov 15, 2008 | Reply
Hi Lorna: did you select the header or footer you created before trying to save it? In looking back at those directions, I see that I didn’t specify that as part of Step 7. Try that and see if it allows you to save it.
Hope that solves the problem; please comment again if it doesn’t.
Thanks Lorna!
By Lorna Coppinger on Nov 15, 2008 | Reply
Loren, Help!
I’m trying to ‘Insert a Footer with File Name and Path in Two Clicks’ and when I get to step #7, to save the footer, the ‘Save Selection to Footer Gallery…’ option is greyed out in both the Design Tab/Footer and the Insert Tab/Footer.
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks, Lorna C
By Loren on Oct 30, 2008 | Reply
Hello Moshe, I think the answer for your friend would be to have a next page section break at the very end of each of his chapters. Each chapter would also have the Same as Previous option turned off in the Header & Footer Tools. If your friend needed more control over the numbering, it could be controlled through Header & Footer Tools, Design, Header & Footer, Page Number, Format Page Number.
There are articles on this site with more info about page numbering and sections: Section Letters & Restarting Page Numbering and Working with Page Numbering in Word 2007.
Hope that this info helps. Good luck to you and your friend.
By Moshe on Oct 30, 2008 | Reply
Retaining Page Numbering when inserting files at the end of the first file.
Good afternoon to you Don,
I have a friend that asked me about retaining page numbers when adding a second file to the original one.
He wrote a book, and he made different files for Chapters, now he wants to join it all up and retain the numbers.
As someone who has learned Technical Writing I explained to him that Word 98/2000/XP/2003/2007 when inserting numbers into the Headers or Footers now known as End Notes works as Field code. That it was possible to set Word to number off at each Chapter. Normally I would have done this before opening a Footer, but it’s quite possible to do this in the footer. My friend finds that he cannot retain the page numbers when he joins files together.
Do you have any ideas on the subject?
Moshe
By Loren on Oct 22, 2008 | Reply
Hello William – let me try to answer or direct you to other resources for your answers:
01. Word 2007 icon: you have a couple ways to find this. One, you could do a Search for Word 2007 and you might find the original icon has just been misplaced. If it doesn’t show up in that search try looking for winword (that’s the exe file for Word 2003 & 2007).
To get it back in the Start menu: in Win XP you can click and hold the icon and drag it over the Start button (don’t let go yet), up to Programs (keep holding), hover over the MS Office folder until it opens, then move over and drop it in with the other Office shortcuts.
02. Converting Office 2003 to 2007. MS has Office Migration Planning Manager (OMPM) that is supposed to allow batch conversion of files. I haven’t used it, so can’t say much more than there is a link to the download and more info available here. I would be interested to hear if this works for you or not.
03. “Why is it when newer versions hit the market, easy past features are replaced with those easy features now buried so deep, you can’t find them without finally giving up and going to ‘Help’.”
I don’t know, the reason I started posting this info online was because so many people had similar questions about how to do things in Office. Look for an upcoming article here on “How to Insert File Name and Path in a Footer in 2 Clicks (plus some one-time set-up time).”
Thanks for your questions William, and thanks for stopping by.
By William J. Otto on Oct 22, 2008 | Reply
I started out with one question, but getting to this input window, exposed additional questions beyond my main question.
01) For some reason my mind went blank when wanting to know what version of ‘Word’ I had.
Must be age.
I’ve used ‘Office’ for several decades, so I
wouldn’t consider myself being a novice, just
to let you know.
Anyway, to verify what version of ‘Word’ I have, I went to ‘Start’, ‘Programs’and
selected ‘Microsoft Office’. I was shocked to
find all the modules were listed (except) ‘Word’.
I haven’t lost the coding for the module because I use ‘Word’ all the time. I may have
incorrectly moved it for a shortcut on the desk
top (though I don’t see that module’s shortcut
there.
Anyway, could you explain to me how to get it
listed again within the drop-down window of
Microsoft Office (without having to reinstall
Office?)
02) I believe in the previous version of
‘Office’, there was a means by just clicking
on an option, to convert (all)’Word’ documents on the computer to the newer version. I don’t find that ability on my 2007.
Could you please inform me if that ability is
still available, also for Excel and ‘Access’?
03) Now to my main reason for this e-mail.
I finally found (in Help), the steps for adding
the path (including the filename) in the
‘footer’, which I remember was a very easy thing to do in the prior version.
Why is it when newer versions hit the market,
easy past features are replaced with those
easy features now buried so deep, you can’t find them without finally giving up and going
to ‘Help’.
Plus the fact a person spends so much time
tracking the way to do it in the new version.
I miss the logic of why Microsoft programmers
do that? I’m an IBM main-frame programmer of 30yrs and I certainly wouldn’t do such a thing.
I have not read the notes from ‘Help’ on how to do it yet as I wanted to get this e-mail out.
Hopefully the info will enable me to accomplish
what use to be such an easy thing to do, including the ‘change all’ ability of changing
all my files to the format of the 2007 version.
Hope to hear from someone soon.
Respectfully,
William
By kevin gregory on Oct 21, 2008 | Reply
why can’t microsoft add a fix to get the file name & path footer back to an easy 2 click deal. I really really hate this inconvience. I sotre thousands of diocuments in dozens of folders and I need this feature to work efficiently. I just wasted 30 minutes screwing around with this. HELP us!
By Denise on Oct 16, 2008 | Reply
Microsoft programmers really missed the boat with this version. Nothing like taking a one or two-click operation to an 11-step process just insert the darn filename and path in a Word document footer. Microsoft owes it to its users to come out with a fix for all their screw ups in 2007 version.
By Harriet Jones on Oct 14, 2008 | Reply
I am entirely in agreement. Microsoft has done a terrible thing with this Vista version of Office Suite. Also, with the never ending fin. problems so many people will not be upgrading. I personally loved XP and found it stable. I was a power user and this new Vista platform is nothing but frustration. The problem you mention is a good example. Who has the time for this frankly???
By Loren on Sep 25, 2008 | Reply
Hi Eddie – thanks for the clarification. If where you are trying to upload to accepts it, you can save your Word 2007 as an older version of Word, where it would have the .doc extension. Go to the Office button, Save As, and choose Word 97 – 2003. It will possibly show you a message saying some of the features you’ve used aren’t compatible with the older version. You will end up with a second copy of the file.
You can also choose to change the default file format to 97 – 2003 so that all new docs would be saved that way, but some of the new features in Word won’t work. To change the default, go to the Office button, Word Options, Save, and under Save documents, change the Save files in this format. OK to finish.
Another option would be to save your files as pdf format, which is possible to do through Word or a free pdf conversion software.
The x in docx refers to XML format that Office 2007 software now uses.
Good luck, Eddie, hope this helps.
By Eddie on Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
I can’t even attach a .docx in an email to send. When I email the attachment the receiver can’t open the attachment because they get an error message saying the file is corrupted.
By Eddie on Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
I’m trying to upload to a website, but it can never read the .docx extension. Where did the .docx extension originate from? We didn’t have this a few years ago. What does the “x” refer to?
By Loren on Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
Hi Eddie – where are you trying to upload to, and how is the Word doc extension (.docx) giving you a problem?
By Eddie on Sep 23, 2008 | Reply
What is the .docx file extension, I can never upload my resume or any word document for that matter. Please help me.
By Chuck on Sep 22, 2008 | Reply
This kind of function was easy and reliable in prior versions. I did learn how to locate and print the file name and path in Word 2007, but I have to say that this really seems very complicated for what was a simple bur important operation (that we use all the time for intranet emails, OneNote, etc.). This kind of “how do I do this now” with a complicated fix has been my experience with the program since I got it when it first came out. I much preferred the old interface — and the old program for that matter. I always have to save in Word ‘97 because most correspondents don’t have the upgrade, don’t get the converter, can’t open, etc. I don’t think this is me, I think it is the program design and my dissatisfaction with it is reflected in a similar bad experience with the bloated Vista.
By Loren on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
Shelly, you’re making me blush. Glad to be able to help. If there is anything else you could see articles here written on, please mention it in the comments. Thanks again.
By Shelly on Sep 16, 2008 | Reply
THANK YOU! You guys rock! I was looking all over (in Word 2007 Help, the Interactive 2003 to 2007 Guide, etc.) to figure out how to do this and I wasn’t getting anywhere. Of all the different message boards and posts I saw, yours was the only one that was in plain English, clear, concise and easy to follow. Thanks for your help, I can’t tell you how valuable it was. I’ll definitely be back for more advice. SW
By Loren on Sep 15, 2008 | Reply
Louise, take a look at Word 2007: Make Updating Fields Easier and see if that helps.
By Louise on Sep 15, 2008 | Reply
I can’t even get this to work! I did a search in Word help a few months ago for someone else to find out how to add the path so it automatically updated. I found it no problem, but now I can’t even find that.
This is really frustrating. This should be much simpler than it is.
By EZ on Sep 15, 2008 | Reply
Hard to imagine that any of MS’s software engineers ever really used Word before they re-tooled it into the dysfunctional clunker it is now. The helter skelter re-arrangement of commands demonstrates little knowledge of how text is written or documents are created. This ‘insert filename&path’ command is a perfect example. You’ve taken what was a comparatively simple command and complicated it beyond any level of necessity.
By Loren on Sep 15, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for pointing that out, Dalis. It should be fixed now.
By Dalis Davies on Sep 15, 2008 | Reply
Something missing or hidden after,
6. In the Field Properties section, you can specify the format, ie. uppercase, lowercase, for how the path/filename displays.?
By J Shabazz on Sep 14, 2008 | Reply
Here’s a tip for MS: don’t “upgrade” software without retaining the best of its predecessor!
Don’t you folks look at the list of steps to perform a simple function such as inserting a filename into a footer and realize “Oops, we’ve over-engineered it”???
By Chris G on Sep 12, 2008 | Reply
Loren
thanks that extra tip about “update fields before printing” was just what I needed thanks gain.
By Loren on Sep 12, 2008 | Reply
Good morning Chris – yes, the file path should update between versions and renaming of Word. What can happen is that the path may not update immediately automatically. Word will update the path field when opening a file or you can manually update a field by selecting it and pushing F9.
I think the easiest way to get fields to update is to have it happen when you use Print Preview or Print, but you first need to change a Word Option to tell it to update then. In the Office button, click Word Options, then click the Display category in the left pane. Under Printing options, check the box by Update fields before printing.
By Chris G on Sep 12, 2008 | Reply
When you insert the file path into a footer does the file path update when for instance you “save as” the document to a newer verison with a new file name? If not is it posible to do this?
By Loren on Jul 17, 2008 | Reply
Hi Greg – sounds like you have done a lot to try and get this to work. Are you being prompted to save the Building Blocks.dotx when you exit Word? (You have modified styles, building blocks…) That’s where Quick Parts get saved, so there could be a problem with that file.
By Greg Miller on Jul 17, 2008 | Reply
I have tried this procedure countless times – and it works until I exit Word. Then the shortcut either reverts to its original definition or does nothing (if unassigned). We’ve re-installed the entire suite, repaired, forced Word to create a new normal.dotm file, and a few other things – it’s always the same. I use this function daily (and had a button for it in Word 2003). Can anyone help?