How to Auto-Populate a Word Document with Repeated Text or Fields- Where is the Repeat Field Button?

In this video I demonstrate how to automatically update and repeat text or text fields in a Microsoft Word document or form. This will enable you to enter text in one part of the document and automatically update multiple fields elsewhere in the document.
I explore two methods The first method requires you to define bookmarks and then cross-reference the bookmark wherever the text needs to be repeated. The second method uses text form fields which can be referenced by creating custom fields wherever you want the text repeated in the document. You can create custom fields using the shortcut CTRL F9.
Table of Contents:
00:00 - Introduction
00:44 - Bookmark & Cross Reference Method
04:41 - Legacy Text Form Field with Custom Field Method
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[@caexy_]

I come back to this video every few months, thank you sir.

[@2bfrank657]

Thank you very much. I couldn't get my fields to repeat until you pointed out the bug that means an extra field to tab to is required. After adding in an extra field, I'm finally able to get this stuff working properly :)

[@tjmarx]

I haven't needed to do this since Word 97 😂 Great little refresher video. Thanks for your wonderful instructions

[@lawrencebrenner3350]

Thanks for the video. It is exactly what I need. I usually use the pre-made properties fields when repeating text. But I had a template that required more fields than Word provides, so this was great!

[@ChesterTugwell]

Glad it helped!

[@js-ky9ox]

Great demo Chester! Precise & clear!

[@ChesterTugwell]

Thank you kindly!

[@brigitalazdina1003]

Thank you very much for this video. I have long been looking for an opportunity to create field duplication. I finally learned it thanks to this video. Great explanation! And a very useful and little known functionality.

[@crish.2819]

Excellent tutorial, thank you so much

[@dirkpalloti8743]

You are awesome! Thank you!

[@wayneedmondson1065]

Thanks Chester!

[@cassioschneider922]

Thanks! this was very helpful

[@vpad201]

Brilliant! Thanks!

[@adrianag7010]

Very helpful! And what a nice voice you have.

[@mehedihasan-kf4uy]

Thank you so much brother

[@ungkeanlam5803]

Excellent video. Thanks

[@TeknoparkCubeIncubation]

Very nice

[@bernadettehill4710]

Thank you soooo much, this was brilliant and just the info I needed. Well explained including the tips on having the last text field. I had to exit design mode before I could start the protection. You didn't need to do that. Wonder why? But thank you

[@consultcorpgroup1231]

Excellent👍🏻

[@krishnamanjunatha6183]

🙏👌👌I wish more views

[@paulfield6655]

Thanks very much for a useful video. I'm using an Apple MacBook. The quick method in the video didn't work too well for me, but the second more complex did, including the use of F9 function, despite the Apple Word version using a different menu structure.

[@dmousouroulis]

For Macbook users, just click on fn to enable the F1-13 keys, then hit command + F9 to insert the reference box

[@ebrown7338]

Hi! I've made several attempts at the second option in the video but have not had success. It may be because the brackets don't appear when I select the TEXT FORM FIELD button, and the gray box does not appear with darker gray brackets. Any idea why? Thanks!

[@flinty8121]

This is superb. Can it be used for Legacy Check Box Form Fields?

[@tonypunch12]

Thanks

[@tutsecret499]

How can I do this with check box when somebody clicks to select one category name, then should display in another area of the document.

[@EnglishEloquenceMoscow]

1:40 ; Under Properties - Advanced - Show Document Content, when I tick Show Bookmarks it works while I work on my document. However, when I create a new file, it automatically unticks. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you for your video Chester! I really enjoyed your delivery and presentation. Keep it up man!

[@markottaway7493]

@ChesterTugwell - thank you. How does the document automatically update the REF bookmark fields, though? In the second technique, when you type a name in the bookmark at the bottom of your form updates. I thought Word doesn't do that by default, though, and macros/VBA (or F9) are needed to trigger bookmark updates? When I create a document like yours it does not auto-update.

[@gabrielazavisch5643]

Hi Chester, excellent video. I have followed every step however, once I restrict the document the styleref stop working. Would you know why? Thank you

[@user-lk7xg3ky2c]

I need to utilize method 2 for a rapport and require the content to be editable. Is it possible to use method 2 without restricting the editing?

[@andrewmorke]

Good video. The second method proved too much trouble for our average users though.

[@ChesterTugwell]

Sorry to hear that

[@Coemtin222]

Thanks for the video, I am using a template with auto-populate, but every time I save it, it reset the content to default, do you know how to modify that? Thanks!

[@chriscarter5365]

I am not about to get these methods to work when I have the ref field in the header. Have you run into this issue?

[@glennwanamaker7762]

How can I do this to include the text in the header or footer of the document? For example Project Number or PO number? This would be helpful

[@nonsensicon]

Is it possible to do this with multiple docs in a same time without opening them, or when they are open?

[@phil_b8997]

What do you do if you have repeating photos within a document and generate more documents of same kind?

[@Sarah1R1]

All of the Legacy Tools are greyed out and I can't click on them (other than "Reset Form Fields"). Do I need a certain version of Word to access them?

[@guadalupe16]

Thank you! Very useful. Just one question: I have a long text document with multiple cross references linked to one bookmark, but each one of those references needs to follow a different format (font type, color and size). Whenever I update the fields they all follow the original bookmark format. Is there a way to make them keep the destination format? I wouldnt want to go through the document changing the format by hand... Thank you!

[@agradoville]

make sure you "STOP PROTECTING" the document and then you can go an change the format of any of the text to what you want

[@SESSvid]

@@agradoville where can I find the "STOP PROTECTING"?

[@MrFraiche]

5:30 How are you able to click on the Legacy Form buttons? My interface has them greyed out

[@Jhernandez898]

how do i keep the text form field from shown the grey highlight when printing?

[@user-tz5zw4lu2e]

How to do it if the document is 26pages long, let's just say we are interested in adding both name and date?

[@isaacrodriguez8892]

Very helpful video. Whenever I click insert during the cross-reference stage - the field that comes up is not just a blank gray space. It shows up in my document like this: {REF ChildName}. When I right-click to update field - nothing updates. There is an exclamation point on my update field button. How can I fix this?

[@mrfaithful82]

right click on it, and click TOGGLE FIELD CODE; that should help!

[@mimihealy5046]

Ctrl + F9 starts and stops a video even when the focus is on the Word document. Is this a keyboard-specific control? Is there a link within MS Word 365 where I can insert {REF} instead of using Ctrl + F9?

[@js-ky9ox]

If you're using a laptop: you might need to press the Fn key (i.e. Ctrl+Fn+F9)

[@MarkStettler]

@@js-ky9ox Yes, this worked - Thank you

[@jhak6]

Can you autopopulate not from a text control but from a Drop Down List Content Control Value?

[@flinty8121]

Did you get an answer anywhere? 😢

[@tamararose3221]

ctrl +f9 seems to do absolutely nothing on my laptop in word. What is the long way of doing this shortcut?

[@js-ky9ox]

you might need to press the Fn key with the shortcut (i.e. Ctrl+Fn+F9)

[@rehypotehcation3682]

@@js-ky9ox The F9 key on recent Macs is by default set for iTunes control. you need to turn off this behavior in Apple>System Settings>Keyboard>Function Keys

[@ScottyFNQ]

@@rehypotehcation3682 That one still does nothing for me. I've tried restarting ☹

[@ScottyFNQ]

okay, sorted it out. you must press CONTROL+COMMAND+F9 This resulted in me saving my neighbours 9 floors down from having a laptop smash through their roof 😂

[@user-jo4sx3pn1s]

can you auto populate a drop down box

[@skitzofreenik]

This is dynamite! Do you know how i can remove the space for Option 1?