Tools to View Field Codes

You know you can use the Field Codes check box on the View tab of the Options dialog box to control whether or not field codes are displayed in your document. You may even know that you can use ALT+F9 to switch between field codes and their results. However, what if you are mouse-bound, and want to accomplish the same task quickly without resorting to the keyboard?

You can add a tool to any toolbar you want that will toggle between field codes and field results. To add such a tool to your toolbar, follow these steps:

1. Choose Customize from the Tools menu. This displays the Customize dialog box.
2. Make sure the Toolbars tab (Word 6 or Word 95) or the Commands tab (Word 97 or later versions) is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. In the list of Categories, select View.
4. If you are using Word 6 or Word 95, select the View Field Codes button from the buttons available in the dialog box. (It is the button with the red braces and the lowercase letter "a" in it.)
5. If you are using Word 97 or a later version, select View Field Codes from the list of commands in the dialog box.
6. Use the mouse to drag the command (or button) from the dialog box to its new location on your toolbar. When you release the mouse button, a new icon appears on the toolbar.
7. Click on Close to dismiss the Customize dialog box.

Now, when you want to see your field coding, click on the new icon. Click again, and the results of the field codes are instead displayed.