599CD.com   Full View
 
 

What's New?  |  Tutorials  |  Tips  |  Blog  |  Forums  |  Help  |  Customer Logon  |  Order

 
     
 
Tips & Tricks
   

  Access   Excel   Word   Windows   FrontPage   Hardware   Misc

 
 
Inserting Automatic Date Codes in your documents
 
Q: I have a specific letter template that I like to use when I'm creating business correspondence. I always remember to type in the recipient's name, address, and of course the body of the letter. However, I always forget to type in today's date. I print out the letter and - if I'm lucky - I discover that it has an old date on it. If I'm not lucky, the recipient gets mailed a letter with last month's date on it. Is there any way to automatically make Word update that date when I open the letter? >Emilio, Boston NY
 
A: Sure thing, Emilio. You can use an Automatic Date Code in Word. Here's how it works: open up your document (or your template) and delete the current date. Now, click on Insert > Date & Time from the toolbar (this is with Word XP). Pick the specific date format you want, and make sure you click on the checkbox at the bottom that says Update Automatically. Click OK and save your document. That's it. Next time you open up the document, you'll see today's date there.

The only caveat is this: if you want to make sure you know when you saved a particular document, I suggest saving the document with the date in the filename because then next time you open up that document, the date will get updated. For example: you send someone a letter on November 1st, 2004 and save it. You open that letter back up on February 2nd to see when you initially send it, but your date code updates to Feb 2nd. So, what I do is just make sure to save the file as "letter to joe smith 2004-11-01.doc" for example. This is just something I do. Hope this helps. We teach more about the automatic date codes in our Microsoft Word 201 course.

 

 

 

 

You may want to read these articles from the 599CD Blog:

 

 

Need Help
 
Do you have questions about Word, Excel, Access, Web Design, or computers in general? Just ask us anything you'd like. Click here for assistance.
 

Get Free Tips & Tricks
 

Join our mailing list today and get information on our Free Tips & Tricks Newsletter including free video tutorials, eBooks, live seminars, and more.

Email:
Name:
Type in the word to the left:
 
Your email will be kept 100% safe and will never be given to 3rd parties.

Subscribe to our RSS FeedWhat's This?

Facebook  Twitter  RSS  hide  help

599CD Home   |   Learn More   |   What's New?   |   Contact Us   |   Free Demo   |   FAQs   |   Order Now   |   Affiliate Program   |   TechHelp   |   MYOLP   |   Jobs   |   Downloads   |   Handbooks  (Text)   |    Mailing List   |   Lost Passwords   |   Referral Program   |   Online Poll   |   Corporate, Educational, Government, Non-Profit Sales   |   Message Forums   |   Testimonials   |   Privacy Policy   |   Free Gift CDs   |   Consulting Services   |   Waiting List   |   RSS Feed   |   Tips & Tricks