autocomplete date format

Question

In my Word 2007 when I start typing today’s date Word recognizes that I could be typing todays date and offers to complete the date by pressing enter.  The format used is mm/dd/yy. Is there a way to change this default format to something else (like mm/dd/yyyy or others)?

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

I don't believe you can - and as this function causes more irritation than value, I would suggest that you insert the current date using a macro attached either to a QAT button or a keyboard shortcut and then you can have whatever date format you choose e.g. as follows

http://www.gmayor.com/installing_macro.htm

See also http://www.gmayor.com/popup_calendar.htm

Sub InsertDate()

Selection.TypeText Format(Date, "MM/dd/yyyy")

End Sub

or somewhat more adventurous

Sub InsertDate2()

Dim sDay As String, sOrd As String

sDay = Format(Date, "dd")

Select Case Right(sDay, 1)

    Case Is = 1

        If Left(sDay, 1) = 1 Then

            sOrd = "th"

        Else

            sOrd = "st"

        End If

    Case Is = 2

        If Left(sDay, 1) = 1 Then

            sOrd = "th"

        Else

            sOrd = "nd"

        End If

    Case Is = 3

        If Left(sDay, 1) = 1 Then

            sOrd = "th"

        Else

            sOrd = "rd"

        End If

    Case Is = 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0

            sOrd = "th"

    Case Else

End Select

With Selection

    .TypeText Format(Date, "dddd, MMMM d")

    .Font.Superscript = True

    .TypeText sOrd

    .Font.Superscript = False

    .TypeText Format(Date, " yyyy ")

End With

End Sub

<JeffG136> wrote in message news:*** Email address is removed for privacy ***...

In my Word 2007 when I start typing today's date Word recognizes that I could be typing todays date and offers to complete the date by pressing enter.  The format used is mm/dd/yy. Is there a way to change this default format to something else (like mm/dd/yyyy or others)?

Thanks for any help.

---

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

www.gmayor.com

Posted via the Communities Bridge

http://communitybridge.codeplex.com/

Answer 2

It does not seem in any way related to the regional settings that I can see - but I am prepared to be convinced :)

I might have expected it to use the short date format - but it doesn't appear to?

<DeanH> wrote in message news:*** Email address is removed for privacy ***...

This is not controlled by Word but by the Regional and Language Option in Control Panel.

Customise the settings in this dialog to you requirements

All the best

DeanH

---

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

www.gmayor.com

Posted via the Communities Bridge

http://communitybridge.codeplex.com/

Answer 3

This is not controlled by Word but by the Regional and Language Option in Control Panel.

Customise the settings in this dialog to you requirements

All the best

DeanH

Answer 4

The Regional and Language Settings do control the date format in Word to a degree. For example it does recognize changes made to the Long Date format but the Short Date format appears to be troublesome, especially with the year format. I wonder if it's because the MM/dd/yy short date format is hard-wired and Word uses the first match.

Now, if you want to use a macro-free method and continue using AutoComplete you could create an AutoCorrect entry that replaces /10 with /2010. However it would need to be updated every year.  

---

~Beth Melton Microsoft Office MVP

Answer 5

Graham, you are right. Well I never, I have thought R&LO controlled these autotexts for years :-(

Where is this controlled then?

All the best

DeanH