Why exactly am I getting : This document may contain..." in my MS word document?

Question

Hi,

I am using an xsl fo converted to convert xsl to docx document and everytime I add table of contents in the xsl, the generated document gives the message " This document contains fields that may refer to other files. Do you want to update the fields in the document?". Even simplest ToC gives this message. I want to understand why exactly I get this. I do not have any links to external files.

Answer 1

Here’s a breakdown of why this happens, even if you're not linking to external files:

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💡 Root Cause

When Word sees fields like:

xml
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<w:fldSimple w:instr="TOC \o '1-3' \h \z \u"/>

or their equivalent complex field code forms (i.e., <w:fldChar> with <w:instrText> inside a run), it treats them as potentially dynamic fields that could:

Reference bookmarks

Reference hyperlinks (\h switch)

Include external content (though in your case, it doesn’t)

Microsoft Word can't determine ahead of time whether those fields truly reference external content, so it plays it safe and shows that warning.

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🧠 Why TOC Triggers It

Even a simple TOC like:

nginx
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TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u

triggers this because of:

\h = hyperlinks (triggers "external reference" detection)

\u = uses applied paragraph outline levels (can be dynamic)

\z = hides page numbers in web layout view

➡️ The mere presence of \h or any field that could update content dynamically causes this.

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✅ Ways to Avoid or Mitigate

1. Remove the \h switch

If you don't need hyperlinks in your TOC:

xml
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<w:fldSimple w:instr="TOC \o '1-3' \z \u"/>

This reduces the chance that Word will think the field is external — though it may still prompt you in some cases.

2. Use Static TOC Instead of Dynamic Fields

Instead of inserting a TOC field, generate the TOC manually (just text and page numbers). This removes all dynamic field references — but it becomes static and won’t update automatically.

3. Accept the Prompt (It's Harmless)

If users understand the document doesn’t actually reference external files, you might leave the behavior as-is. It's common and expected with real TOCs.

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Summary

Cause	Explanation
TOC field itself	Considered dynamic, might have hyperlinks
TOC field itself	Considered dynamic, might have hyperlinks
Word default behavior	Assumes any field might link externally
No actual links needed	But still triggers warning due to field typeHere’s a breakdown of why this happens, even if you're not linking to external files: