Can I insert a revision date to a Word document header?

[Guest]

Each time I print an updated document I'd like to have the revision date
appear in either the header or footer, but I haven't been able to figure out
how to do that. Any ideas?

 

[Margaret Aldis]

Open header and footer view and Use Insert>Field to insert a SAVEDATE field.
Make sure you have the print options set to update fields on printing.

This will print the date the document was last saved, which is usually
sufficient to identify a revision.

 

[Guest]

Select where you want the to go. You can type "Revised" before the insertion
point (If you wish.)
Then go to Insert, Date and Time...
Select the the format you want.
Then check the box titled Update Automatically. It will update to the
current date whenever you open it. If you do not revise it when you open it,
just tell it not to save changes when you close it. It should retain the old
date.

 

[Margaret Aldis]

The problem with this idea (as hundreds of troubled postings here witness)
is that the original date is inaccessible - so trying to print last week's
revision today will give you today's date in the footer. I may be wrong, but
I don't think that's what the OP wanted as the 'revision date'. And if what
you want is the 'last print date' then the field PRINTDATE is a really
better bet, as it will be stored in the file so you can see it next time you
open (thus confirming you are looking at the document you printed?)