What Are Field Codes in Microsoft Word and How to Turn Them Off (e.g., {STYLEREF 'Map Title' * MERGEFORMAT }, Continued)

What are field codes in MS Word, and why do they appear in my document?

Field codes in Microsoft Word are placeholders for data that can change in a document. They are used for a variety of functions, such as automatic numbering, dates, cross-references, hyperlinks, tables of contents, and more. Field codes allow Word to update information dynamically without manual intervention.

Field codes appear in your document when Word displays the underlying code instead of the result it produces. This can happen inadvertently if certain settings are enabled or if specific keyboard shortcuts are used.

How can I identify or spot field codes in my Word document?

Field codes can be identified by their distinctive formatting and appearance. They usually appear within curly braces { } and contain code-like text that starts with a field name followed by instructions or parameters.

For example:

• { TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u } represents a Table of Contents field.
• { PAGE } represents a page number field.
• { HYPERLINK "http://www.example.com" } represents a hyperlink field.
• {STYLEREF "Map Title" \*MERGEFORMAT" }, Continued represents a Continued Map
• {STYLEREF "Block Label" \*MERGEFORMAT" }, Continued represents a Continued Block

If you see these codes instead of the expected results (like the actual page number or hyperlink text), it means that Word is displaying the field codes.

Why are field codes showing and how can I turn them off?

Field codes may show instead of their results due to specific settings or accidental toggling. Here are common reasons and solutions:

1. Field Code Toggle: You might have accidentally toggled the field code display.

   • Solution: Press Alt + F9 (Windows) to toggle the display of field codes and results. This shortcut switches all field codes in the document between showing code and showing results.

2. Individual Field Toggle:

   • Solution: Right-click on the field code and select "Toggle Field Codes" from the context menu. This switches the display for that specific field.

3. Word Options Setting:

   • Solution:
     • Go to File > Options > Advanced.
     • Scroll down to the "Show document content" section.
     • Uncheck the box labeled "Show field codes instead of their values".
     • Click OK to apply the changes.