Frequently asked questions - Writer

Other languages:

How do I insert the current date in the footer of my document?

Follow these steps:

insert a footer (if you have not already done so) by selecting Insert ▸ Header and Fotter ▸ Footer ▸ Default style (or the name of the Page style in use);
with the cursor positioned in the footer, optionally insert either one or two tabs to move from the left to the middle or the right of the footer; and
select the Insert ▸ Field ▸ Date menu.

By default the date is fixed to that of the day you insert the field. To get the date updated or change its format:

double click the date field;
choose whether to keep a fixed date (Date (fixed)), or to have it updated when fields are updated (Date);
choose the format of the date, and its offset in days (positive or negative); and
validate with OK.

More specific dates are available:

select the Insert ▸ Field ▸ More fields menu (Ctrl + F2);
select DocInformation tab;
to retrieve:
- the date the document was created, select Created;^[1]
- the date the document was last modified, select Modified>;^[1]
- the date the document was last printed, select Last Print;^[1]
in the Select list, select Date
in the Format list, select the format you want to use;
to get the field value fixed, check Fixed content, otherwise the field could be modified during an update;
click Insert; and
click Close.

^* If the information does not exist (if the file has not yet been saved or has not yet been printed) the field stays empty and nothing is visible.

Note:

if instead of the date, the name of the field is displayed, unckeck the View ▸ Field names menu (Ctrl + F9); and
to know how the fields are updated, see the Help Fields ; Automatic update. You can also force the update through the Tools ▸ Update ▸ Fields menu (F9).

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 If the information does not exist (if the file has not yet been saved or has not yet been printed) the field stays empty and nothing is visible.