Microsoft Word 2007 opening all docs with field codes toggled off

Question

Recently, something changed with my Microsoft Word 2007 installation/preferences on Windows XP, such that whenever I open a word document, all the field codes are displayed raw instead of as their expanded value. For example, my header reads:

My Name { TITLE \* MERGEFORMAT }    Version { REVNUM \* MERGEFORMAT }

But, if I copy and paste it here, it reads expanded:

My Name My Doc Title    Version 42

I expect to see the copy and paste version directly inside Word, I can work around this by right clicking on each such field and choosing toggle field codes, however, I never had to do that before, as previously, the document opened with all such field codes expanded.

Another example is the Table of Contents which shows as:

{ TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u }

Instead of the full table of contents.

I searched the word options dialog, but could not find anything that appeared relevant.

Please suggest how to restore the old behavior.

Answer 1

I found the control in Word 2007 in the Advanced section of the options dialog under 'Show Document Content':

Answer 2

You need to clear this checkbox.

Answer 3

I had the same problem in Word 2010 on Windows 7, and it was also solved the above steps. Note that at the same time I had ActiveX buttons tied to VBA macros and the buttons were converted to pictures and so no longer functioned as buttons. I have found no way to reverse this. It is possible that the two problems occurring together are evidence of some sort of corruption, since I am certain I did not change the field codes setting. Further, this problem occurred when I opened up older documents that could not have been independently corrupted.

This problem occurred after I exited Word but the process was still running and I ended up rebooting.

Answer 4

And if you are working with MS Office for Mac you will find this checkbox by:

1. Word --> Preferences
2. From the first row at the top "Authoring and Proofing Tools" --> cick View
3. In the first group of options "Show" --> Untick the box: "Field codes"

That'll do the trick.