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F9 does not update field codes or table of contents

Anonymous
2012-09-25T01:37:49+00:00

In a Word 2007, when I access one specific template (developed in 2003 or earlier, but now has a dotm extension), or a document based on this template, I enjoy all features of this template (styles, autotexts, macros, toolbar), except for one thing: THE F9 KEY WILL NOT UPDATE CODES (e.g., table of contents, time, etc.).

I have a partial--but not useful or convenient--workaround:

      Setup:

  • Launch document, add two codes: (1) table of contents, (2) auto-updating time code.
  • Modify document in a way that affects the table of contents (i.e., add a heading styled like others that are in the table of contents)
  • Attempt to select all and update codes with F9--IT FAILS
  • Switch from print layout view to draft view, , press F9, and go back to print layout--THIS UPDATES THE TIME, BUT NOT THE TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Can you help?

ADDITIONAL INFO:

* Even when you right click on the field and see a visual prompt that says "Update Field," no field in this document updates.

* In this document, fields display differently (code has a rectangle, tab at top, and the words "Update Fields" in the tab; shading looks normal) than they do in other documents (shading only)

* I cannot duplicate the problem with documents based on any other template--just this one, which I can post on my website, if this does not go against MS forum rules.

* I disabled all templates but this one and confirmed that F9 is in fact assigned to UpdateFields. It is. But it doesn't.

* I wrote a macro into the template. Macro written to select entire doc and update fields. It doesn't. I remmed it out.

* I've played with the various F9 and F11 key combos to see if I can awaken it from sleep, and I cannot through these keys.

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Answer accepted by question author

Charles Kenyon 167.4K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2012-09-26T04:49:12+00:00

At one point, in order to override the problem, I created an update fields macro, but it didn't work, so it's remmed out now and gone.

If the name is still there with the contents REMed out, it is blocking your updates.

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  1. Paul Edstein 82,861 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2012-09-25T07:11:03+00:00

    It's possible someone has locked the template's field codes. To unlock them in the resulting document, press Ctrl-A to select the entire body of the document, then Ctrl-Shift-F11 to unlock the the fields. Then try F9 or a Print Preview to see whether the fields update. If so, open your template and apply the same approach to unlock its fields.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-09-15T04:12:24+00:00

    For me, the solution to this problem was not in MS Word. I found that my recent Snagit installation caused the problem. Snagit was using F9 as a shortcut key. As soon as I changed the shortcut key in Snagit, F9 worked again in Word.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-05-13T00:53:46+00:00

    It was F-Lock for me --all that troubleshooting just to find out all that was needed was pressing one button!

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-02-10T20:53:35+00:00

    Your keyboard is in F-lock mode. Find the F-lock key on your keyboard and press it.

    PAN

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