Introduction to Fields

Apache OpenOffice 4.1 Writer Guide

Chapter 14: Working With Fields

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• Introduction to Fields
• Quick and Easy Field Entry
• Using Document Properties to Hold Metadata and Information That Changes
• Using Other Fields to Hold Information That Changes
• Using AutoText to Insert Often-Used Fields
• Defining Your Own Numbering Sequences
  • Create a Number Range Variable
  • Use AutoText to Insert a Number Range Field
• Using Automatic Cross-References
  • Inserting Cross-References
  • Available Formats
  • Preparing Items as Targets for Cross-Referencing
    • Using Bookmarks
    • Setting References
• Using Fields in Headers and Footers
• Using Fields Instead of Outline Numbering for Appendix Numbering
• Tricks for Working with Fields
  • Keyboard Shortcuts for Fields
  • Fixing the Contents of Fields
  • Converting Fields into Text
• Developing Conditional Content
  • Choose the Types of Conditional Content to Use
    • Conditional Text
    • Hidden Text
    • Hidden Paragraphs
    • Hidden Sections
  • Plan Your Conditional Content
    • Choose or Define a Variable
    • Define a Logical Expression (Condition) Involving the Selected Variable
  • Create the Variable
    • DocInformation Fields
    • User-Defined Variable Field
  • Apply the Condition to the Content
    • Conditional Text
    • Hidden Text
    • Hidden Paragraphs
    • Hidden Sections
  • Change the Value of the Variable
• Using Placeholder Fields
• Using Input Fields and Input Lists

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Introduction to Fields

Fields are extremely useful features of Writer that are used for a variety of purposes.

For example:

• data that changes (such as the current date or the total number of pages)
• data that might change (the name of a product or book under development)
• user-defined numbering sequences
• automatic cross-references
• conditional content (words or paragraphs that are visible or printed in some conditions but not others)
• Index entries are also fields.

This chapter describes some common uses of fields. A full discussion of fields and their use is beyond the scope of this book, but experienced users can find more details in the application Help.

Fields have a gray background when viewed on screen, unless you have deselected the Field shadings option or changed the color of field shadings on the Appearance tab of the Options—OpenOffice dialog box. This gray background does not show when you print the file to hard copy or PDF. To turn field shadings on or off quickly, choose View → Field Shadings or press  Control  +  F8 .