Last change date in Word 1

[webrabbit]

I would like to insert the last change date in a Word document. The default is the last access date. I can change this to a fixed date, but I don't want to have to change it every time I make a change to the document.

 

[fumei]

Define "change".

If you open the file and edit it (and change something), but DO NOT save the file...is that a change? Yet the access date will change.

If you open the file and then close it, no change, yet the access date will change.

Are you using Revisions? Not Track Changes, but Revisions.

faq219-2884

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[webrabbit]

A change, not an access, is open, make changes, and save. I guess what I want is for the date to change whenever I save the file.

No, I am no using Revisions; nor am I Tracking Changes, I just want the date to update for each save. Currently, it updates for each open.

 

[TonyJollans]

What date updates for each open?

Enjoy,
Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We want to help you; help us to do it by reading this: Before you ask a question.

I'm working (slowly) on my own website

 

[webrabbit]

The access date.

 

[Lilliabeth]

Can you insert the field SaveDate for that?

--Lilliabeth

 

[fumei]

Exactly. Insert > Field > SaveDate

Choose the format to be used. Press OK.

faq219-2884

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[TonyJollans]

> What date updates for each open?

> The access date?

We're not going to make much progress with answers like that. Of course the access date reflects the date the file was accessed. What I meant was what do you have in your document? You say the default is the access date, the default what, exactly? By default Word does not have dates in Documents so you must have something in your environment putting something there. What is that something and how does it work?

I guess Lilliabeth and Gerry are pointing you in the right direction, so I'll leave you in their capable hands.

Enjoy,
Tony

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We want to help you; help us to do it by reading this: Before you ask a question.

I'm working (slowly) on my own website

 

[fumei]

In other words webrabbit...

"Currently, it updates for each open. "

WHAT is the "it"? You do not say. WHAT is "it" updating - text? a formfield? You do not say. HOW is "it" doing the update? You do not say.

You have to be clear.

"I guess what I want is for the date to change whenever I save the file."

By using a SaveDate field, it will update in the document when the file is opened, showing the last saved date (and time if you wish). It will NOT change when you save the file (as you appear to be asking for). It will change when you save the file AND update the field.

So, are you asking for something to do that? Save the file and update a SavedDate field?

faq219-2884

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[webrabbit]

So I wasn't clear enoug? I have a date field in a Word document. When I originally inserted the field, there was and option, "Update automatically?". If I had unclicked that option, which I have in other documents, the date would have been static, that is it would have kept the value it had when I first created the document, many years ago. This is an option I have chosen in other documents. However, in this document, I didn't want the date to remain static, I wanted it to show the last date the document was changed (saved). But instead, the date field changes to the current date every time I open the document I don't want this to happen; I only want the date field to change to the curren date when I save the document. I open it frequently to print a copy to give to a medical professional. I want the date to show the last time any information in the document was changed, not the current date. Is that clear enough?

 

[fumei]

So I wasn't clear enoug? "

No...you were not. You wrote:

"I would like to insert the last change date in a Word document."

That is hardly the same as: "I have a date field in a Word document. " You did not mention that.

A date field is just that...a date field. Yes, it can be "updated automatically", but it IS a date field. it is not a date saved field. The date field inserts the current date, and - as you know - either is static (the date it is inserted), or updates to the current date. It has NO relationship to saving the file.

" I want the date to show the last time any information in the document was changed, not the current date. Is that clear enough? "

And you have the answer already. See the previous posts. Insert a savedate field. Please read the caveats regarding updating the field value.

Note that a SaveDate field does not, technically, show "the last time any information in the document was changed". It shows exactly what it is: the date it was last saved. For your purposes this should be one and the same.

In any case, there it is. Insert a SaveDate field. It will update on document open, or if you explicitly update the field.

faq219-2884

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[webrabbit]

Sorry, I missed fumei's post. I did insert a date field, just the wrong type. I was not aware that there was a SaveDate option. That's exactly what I wanted. That is the perfect answer for my needs in this case.