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Microsoft Word: Insert File Name and Path

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Using Word’s headers or footers for file-specific information

Word document headers and footers can be helpful for providing file- or document-specific information such as page numbers, dates, and author’s name. The header is a section of a document that appears in the top margin, while the footer appears in the bottom margin. Material placed in the header or footer will appear on each page of your document unless you choose to exempt the first page. Below, we’ll show you how to place the document’s file name, either with or without the full document path, within the header or footer of your document.

Placing a Word document’s file name and path in the header or footer

Inserting a file name and path is a simple task that can greatly benefit anyone using your document. Using the file name can help identify different versions of a document, or simply identify the electronic file name on a printed copy.

A great reason to use the file path is to ensure everyone working on a similar project knows where the file is located. For example, perhaps your department is working on a project, and you and another co-worker are tasked with modifying a document that relates to other project files. If project files are stored in the same project folder or directory, it can be helpful to include the file path, anyone with access to that directory can quickly navigate to all of the associated documents.

How to insert file name and path in your document

Navigate to the header or footer in one of two ways:

  1. Select Header or Footer from the Insert tab and choose the Edit option toward the bottom of the drop-down menu (Option 1), OR double-click in the header or footer space of the document (Option 2).
    Option 1:
    You can open the header or footer of a document by selecting Header or Footer from within the Insert tabs ribbon options.
    OR Option 2:
    You can open the Header or Footer area of a document by double-clicking within that area of a Word document. When opened, the cursor will be placed within the header or footer, and the main body will be unavailable until you close the header or footer.
  2. Use the tab key to move the cursor to the desired location within your header or footer, or use the alignment tools on the Home tab as shown below.
    The default alignment tools will move your cursor to the left, right, or center. Here, the cursor is centered within the footer using the center alignment option.
  3. In the Insert group, within the Header and Footer tab, click the Document Info button.
    screen grab with "Document Info" selected. Document Info has a drop down arrow option.
  4. Choose File Name or File Path to have the appropriate information added to the header or footer of your document.
    Microsoft Word Document Info setting will insert file name in the footer or header of documents.
    File path "W:\Dept Projects|2016-08\MyProjectDocument.docx" inserted into Header." In this example, "MyProjectDocument.docx" is the file name. The previous content is the file path.
  5. To exit the header or footer, select the Close Header and Footer button on the ribbon or double click the body of the document.

Bonus: As you can see from the above menu, you can also easily insert Author and other Document information using the steps above and choosing and a different option from the menu. The Field… option also provides access to different properties.

Additional Productivity Resources

  • We have more Microsoft Word tips in our Recent Posts and Categories sections. These are on the right side of your screen if viewing from a desktop.
  • To learn about upcoming classes on Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft applications, please visit our Course Schedule page.
  • To schedule a custom class for any Microsoft application on your organization’s campus, please contact our Training Team.

Be sure to look through our other Software Tips for more on Microsoft Office.


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