Field keyboard shortcuts

Word 2016
A field is a placeholder that Word uses to insert specified information into a document. Word automatically uses fields for specific elements that update automatically, such as dates, formulas, page numbers, and a table of contents. The field looks like a text in curly braces but you can not create a field by typing such text in your document; instead, you tell Word to insert the field you want.

Word offers two ways to work with fields using the Field dialog box and using shortcuts:

  • F9 - Update fields - updates all fields contained in the current selection.
  • Ctrl+F9 - Insert field characters - inserts new field code braces (curly brackets) for manually inserting fields:
    The special brackets for fields in Word 365
  • Shift+F9 - Toggle field display - toggles field code display for fields contained in the current selection.
  • Alt+F9 - View field codes - toggles field code display for all fields in the entire document.
  • Ctrl+Shift+F9 - Unlink fields - converts all qualifying fields in the selection into hard text; once this action is done, the field can't be updated any more.
  • Alt+Shift+F9 - Do field click - alternative to double - clicking MacroButton and GoToButton fields.

Shortcuts for navigating between fields

  • F11 - Next field - selects the next field in the document. Field codes do not need to be displayed for this command or the next.
  • Shift+F11 - Previous field - selects the previous field in the document.

Shortcuts for locking and unlocking fields

Note: See How to turn on or turn off highlighting of fields in a Word document.

See also this tip in French: Raccourcis clavier du champ.

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Field keyboard shortcuts

Field keyboard shortcuts

A field is a placeholder that Word uses to insert specified information into a document. Word automatically uses fields for specific elements that update automatically, such as dates, formulas, page numbers, and a table of contents. The field looks like a text in curly braces but you can not create a field by typing such text in your document; instead, you tell Word to insert the field you want.
Field keyboard shortcuts

Field keyboard shortcuts

This tip contains shortcut keys for simple and faster work with fields.
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