WD2000: Fillin Field Prompts Twice (211597)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q211597

SYMPTOMS

When you use the FILLIN field in a new document, you are prompted twice for the information.

CAUSE

Word automatically updates a FILLIN field under the following conditions:
  • The FILLIN field is stored in a template other than Normal.dot.

    -and-
  • You create a new document based on this template.

    NOTE: If a FILLIN field is placed in the Normal template (Normal.dot), that FILLIN field is not updated automatically when a new document is opened.
If you have an AutoNew or FileNew macro that issues a command to update fields, Word prompts you twice for each of your FILLIN fields when creating a new document based upon the template containing the fields.

NOTE: This functionality is different from versions of Word earlier than Word 97, and there is no way to turn off this feature.

WORKAROUND

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements.

Method 1: Remove the AutoNew Macro

NOTE: This method may remove other functionality if the AutoNew macro performs additional tasks other than updating the fields.
  1. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.
  2. Click AutoNew.
  3. Click Delete.
  4. Click Yes to the prompt Do you want to delete the macro?.
  5. When you close the document, click Yes to save changes to the template.

Method 2: Lock the Fillin Fields

  1. On the File menu, click Open and open your template.
  2. Display the field codes in your document. On the Tools menu, click Options. Click the View tab. Under Show, select the Field codes check box, and then click OK.
  3. Select your FILLIN field, and then press CTRL+F11.

    This locks the FILLIN field so it is not updated. Repeat this step for each of your FILLIN fields.
  4. Create an AutoNew macro with the following statement(s): 
    ActiveDocument.Fields.Locked = False
' Note: If you do not want the fields
' to update automatically, do not add
' the following command line to your
' AutoNew macro.
ActiveDocument.Fields.Update
  5. Close and save the macro and your template.
NOTE: Word updates FILLIN fields before running an AutoNew macro. Because you have locked the FILLIN fields, Word can only prompt once for each of your FILLIN fields as a result of the AutoNew macro.

Method 3: Use Form Fields

Use form fields to enter information into your form instead of the FILLIN field.

For additional information about using form fields, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

212328 WD2000: How to Create an Online Form Using Form Fields

Method 4: Use the Ask field

Use the ASK field to prompt you for the required information. Then use the REF field to insert the prompted information into your document.

For example:

{Ask Name "What is your name?"}{REF Name}


NOTE: Do not use the FILLIN field.

For more information about the ASK field, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type Field Codes: ASK field in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

For more information about the REF field, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type Field Codes: REF field in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Word retained, for backward compatibility, the use of certain fields to prompt you for the insertion of information into your document. In earlier versions of Word, you can use the ASK or FILLIN fields to prompt you for information. Using these fields requires a macro that forces Word to bring up the field prompts automatically.

Microsoft Word automatically brings up the prompt for any FILLIN field you may have in your document without the use of a macro, but it does not bring up the prompt for the ASK field.

For additional information about using FILLIN fields, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

238278 WD2000: How to Create an Automated Form with Fillin Fields

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/17/2005
Keywords:kbbug kbfield kbnofix kbusage KB211597
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