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Unwanted highlighting on Table of Contents and Page numbers

Anonymous
2012-09-26T10:58:09+00:00

My Table of contents and page numbers are suddenly all highlighted in grey. How do I remove this highlighting?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435K Reputation points
    2012-09-26T12:02:41+00:00

    The shading appears to indicate that the content is a Field rather than regular text. It's for the user's benefit that the distinction is made in order to prevent accidental modification which could cause the Field to not function properly. The shading does not print.

    If you do not want the shading to appear you have 3 alternatives in Word> Preferences> View --Field Shading:

    • Always
    • Never
    • When Selected

    Pick the one you prefer, but FWIW I recommend the latter :-)

    Keep in mind that this is not a setting specific to the document... Regardless of how you set your Preference, when anyone else opens the file display of the Field Shading will be determined by their Preference setting -- You cannot control that.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-03-18T15:27:46+00:00

    Since the vast majority of users are using Windows, an answer based on Windows seems extremely appropriate as I didn't realize the first answer was based on a Mac (there was no indication) and got frustrated when I couldn't find those same settings in my MS Word 2016.

    For Windows users with Word 2016:

    File > Options > select advanced from the list on the left side > scroll down to the "Show document content" section > use the dropdown box to make a selection for "Field shading".

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-10-27T18:04:20+00:00

    Absolutely useless answer. 

    Word> Preferences> View --Field Shading:

    Where is preference?

    I have Tools> View....Show Field Shading:

    However, I cannot change it.

    Then, I tried changing Shadow Settings under Drawings

    This also did not work.

    I need specific instructions on how to remove shadow over my page numbers.

    Thanks

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-10-30T15:51:04+00:00

    Thanks for clarifying that the original answer was for the Mac version of Word.

    I discovered the setting you showed in Word 2013.

    However it has no effect on links, particularly the links in a Table of Contents. I can't seem to change the gray shading on them which I find makes them hard to read. I don't mind the shading, I'd just like to be able to tone it down a bit.

    7 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2016-10-27T23:49:22+00:00

    The instructions are accurate:

    1. Open Word Menu
    2. Then Preferences
    3. Then View menu

    Now look at this screenshot:

    4. Click button beside "Field Shading" and choose from the three choices

    Never

    Always

    When selected.

    _________

    Disclaimer:

    The questions, discussions, opinions, replies & answers I create, are solely mine and mine alone and do not reflect upon my position as a Community Moderator.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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