Date format wrong when using shortcut key

[D Brian]

I use Word 2007. I set the default date format by clicking Date & Time in the
Text section under the Insert tab on the ribbon. I choose the format I want
and click Default. I make sure the “Update automatically†box is not checked.
Then I click OK. The date is inserted in the format I chose and it does not
automatically update. Everything works fine up to this point. My problem
comes when I then try to insert the date using the keyboard shortcut
Alt+Shift+D. According to several Word 2007 discussion groups, when
Alt+Shift+D is used the date should be inserted with the default format, but
that doesn’t happen when I do it. Another format is inserted. Also, the date
automatically updates even though the update box was not checked in the Date
and Time dialog box. I found a solution to the update problem but it is a
little cumbersome – Immediately after I insert the date with Alt+Shift+D, I
use the left arrow key to back up into the date field, then I do
Ctrl+Shift+F9. This unlinks the field from the automatic update process. But
I have not found a solution to the format problem. Ideally, I would like to
use one keyboard shortcut to insert a date that is not updated, in the format
I choose. Is it possible to do this? Do I need to create a macro? Any
suggestions would be helpful.

 

[Graham Mayor]

If the function is not working correctly, and it doesn't appear to be as
unchecking the automatically update box should cause the date to be entered
as plain text, it may be an indication of corruption in the Word data key in
the registry. Rename the Data key at
\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Word to OldData and try
again.

If that doesn't fix it, create a macro to insert the date in the format that
you require eg

Sub InsertUSFormatDate()
With Selection
.InsertDateTime DateTimeFormat:="MMMM" & Chr(160) & _
"d," & Chr(160) & "yyyy", InsertAsField:=False
End With
End Sub

and assign the shortcut to that macro
http://www.gmayor.com/installing_macro.htm


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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Terry Farrell]

I always thought that alt+shft+D inserted the date in the short date format
defined in Regional settings in the Control panel.

 

[Graham Mayor]

I believe it does, but the function should still correctly interpret the
'automatically update' setting in the dialog.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Alt+Shift+D is the keyboard shortcut for inserting a DATE field. It does use
the default date format, but it is always a field, irrespective of the
"automatically update" setting in Insert | Date and Time. The same is true
of the Insert Date button on the Header and Footer toolbar in Word 2003 and
earlier. If you want date text, you can either type it or insert the DATE
field and then immediately unlink it with Ctrl+Shift+F9 (as you've been
doing).

If Alt+Shift+D is not using the right format, then perhaps your default
choice is not being saved; I'm not sure whether this setting is stored in
the Normal template or (more likely) the Registry, but if you don't have
write permission to the Registry, or if Normal.dotm is not being saved,
then that could be the explanation for the format difference.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org