Office IT Tips

Complete Guide to List of Field Codes in Microsoft Word

Posted on by Jonh Luke

Managing complex documents efficiently requires automation, and that is where field codes in Microsoft Word become indispensable. Field codes act as placeholders for data that might change in a document, such as page numbers, dates, author names, or even automated math formulas. Whether you are building a dynamic template or managing an extensive corporate report, understanding the available field codes helps streamline your daily office workflows.

This comprehensive reference index provides an alphabetical list of field codes in Word across various versions—including Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013 on both Windows and Mac platforms.

Complete Index of Field Codes in Word

A

  • AddressBlock field: Inserts a structured address block block from a data source for mail merges.
  • Advance field: Shifts the starting point for the text that follows it up, down, left, or right.
  • Ask field: Prompts the user for text information to assign to a bookmark variable during a merge or update.
  • Author field: Automatically displays the name of the document’s author from the file properties.
  • AutoNum field: Inserts an automatic, sequential number.
  • AutoNumLgl field: Numbers paragraphs in legal or hierarchical outline formats.
  • AutoNumOut field: Inserts automatic numbering using standard outline numbering formats.
  • AutoText field: Inserts a pre-defined AutoText entry block into your layout.
  • AutoTextList field: Creates a dropdown list based on specific building blocks or AutoText entries.

B

  • Bibliography field: Generates a complete bibliography based on the citations cited within your document.

C

  • Citation field: Inserts a brief citation reference linked to your source bibliography database.
  • Comments field: Displays comments extracted directly from the document’s metadata summary info.
  • Compare field: Compares two distinct values and returns a “1” if true or “0” if false.
  • CreateDate field: Reflects the exact date and time the document was originally created.

D

  • Database field: Inserts the results of a database query directly into a standard Word table format.
  • Date field: Displays the current calendar date, updating automatically every time you open or print the file.
  • DocProperty field: Displays specific file metadata such as word count, file size, or custom properties.
  • DocVariable field: Retrieves and displays the value of a string variable defined in your VBA macros.

E

  • Embed field: Represents an embedded object created in another program (such as an Excel chart).
  • Eq field: Creates inline mathematical equations using formula positioning instructions.

F

  • FileName field: Automatically displays the current document’s filename.
  • FileSize field: Displays the overall storage footprint of the active file in bytes.
  • Fill-In field: Prompts the user to enter a text response whenever the field updates.
  • = (Formula) field: Performs mathematical calculations on numbers or table cell blocks.

G

  • GoToButton field: Creates an interactive, clickable button that jumps directly to a specific bookmark or page destination.
  • GreetingLine field: Configures automated mail merge greeting segments like “Dear [Name],”.

H

  • Hyperlink field: Inserts an active hyperlink pointing to an external web page, network drive path, or document bookmark anchor.

I

  • If field: Evaluates a logical condition to display one set of text if true, and an alternate set if false.
  • IncludePicture field: Displays graphic images dynamically pulled from an external storage directory.
  • IncludeText field: Inserts text content pulled dynamically from another external source document.
  • Index field: Compiles a comprehensive index list using defined index markers.
  • Info field: Accesses and displays a variety of background file data entries.

K

  • Keywords field: References specific metadata phrases assigned within your file summary properties.

L

  • LastSavedBy field: Displays the profile name of the person who last modified and saved the document.
  • Link field: Dynamically links data from another application (like Excel) using OLE protocols.
  • ListNum field: Inserts a custom alphanumeric sequence for complex inline lists.

M

  • MacroButton field: Creates a visible button trigger that executes a specified script or macro when double-clicked.
  • MergeField field: Acts as a data variable placeholder for automated mailing label operations.
  • MergeRec field: Inserts the numerical index sequence value of the current data row.
  • MergeSeq field: Tracks the chronological order of successfully processed merge items.

N

  • Next field: Instructs a mail merge to immediately load the next sequential record on the same page.
  • NextIf field: Compares values to advance conditional mail data only if requirements match.
  • NoteRef field: Inserts cross-reference information pointing to existing footnote or endnote citations.
  • NumChars field: Displays the total count of text characters within the active document.
  • NumPages field: Reflects the total page length count of your open file project.
  • NumWords field: Calculates and prints the total words present in the text file.

P

  • Page field: Inserts the current dynamic page index number.
  • PageRef field: References the current page placement of a designated bookmark label.
  • Print field: Passes direct raw instruction commands out to specific physical printer devices.
  • PrintDate field: Shows the timestamp data from when the file was last physically printed.
  • Private field: Stores structural layout configuration data for documents converted from legacy applications.

Q

  • Quote field: Inserts specified literal text strings safely inside your output data layouts.

R

  • RD (Referenced Document) field: Generates composite tables or indexes by linking across multiple external sub-files.
  • Ref field: References standard cross-reference markers or custom text bookmarks.
  • RevNum field: Displays the total structural revision saving count tracked by the document file properties.

S

  • SaveDate field: Displays the exact timestamp recorded during the last file save action.
  • Section field: Prints the current section identifier position.
  • SectionPages field: Tallies up the isolated structural page length totals for a given section block.
  • Seq (Sequence) field: Numbers figures, tables, or structural graphics sequentially throughout your text.
  • Set field: Defines and binds content variables to text bookmark names.
  • SkipIf field: Skips data entries completely during automated merges if logical comparisons match.
  • StyleRef field: Displays the closest text block styled with a specified formatting profile.
  • Subject field: Prints the descriptive topic string configured inside document summary fields.
  • Symbol field: Inserts character glyphs using localized font mapping values.

T

  • TA (Table of Authorities Entry) field: Marks elements to build legal reference briefs.
  • TC (Table of Contents Entry) field: Creates localized text anchors to feed standard index tables manually.
  • Template field: Displays the explicit workspace template file path active on the current project.
  • Time field: Outputs real-time local clock variations on your display space.
  • Title field: References your global file title descriptor text block.
  • TOA (Table of Authorities) field: Assembles legal citation tables within legal documents.
  • TOC (Table of Contents) field: Automatically builds dynamic tables of contents based on applied heading styles.

U

  • UserAddress field: References postal addresses saved within user profile configurations.
  • UserInitials field: Displays profile initials belonging to the active software operator.
  • UserName field: Inserts the active user account profile text string.

X

  • XE (Index Entry) field: Marks targeted keyword selections to index into final reference glossaries.

Mastering Field Automation in Word

Using field codes in Microsoft Word is an excellent way to transition from manual document updates to professional, automated workflows. By incorporating these commands, you ensure that file metadata, page counts, and structural references update dynamically without manual recalculations.

To expand your knowledge further, try selecting any field in your document and pressing Alt + F9 (Windows) or Option + F9 (Mac) to toggle between the field code view and its actual text result. Which field code do you plan to use to automate your documents next?

Jonh Luke