Hi I am creating content control fields using the document properties.

Running into a problem with the field upon clicking on it, it does not select the whole field. So you have to delete the placeholder text before entering your content. Instead it just places the cursor in the field without removing the placeholder text.

I tried to delete it and redo it, using the same document property but now the information is now stored and everytime insert it, it reacts the same.



Clicking on the field select the whole field, created using Category (desired result)


Clicking on the field places the cursor in the field, created using Publish date, (undesired result) this content control is recycling what was there previously, in other templates I have created I was able to delete and reinsert and it gave me a fresh control

When I want to change place holder text, I do so in design mode and start typing in the middle. I type what I want, then delete the unwanted default text.
That is...


[Click here to answer] becomes...
[Click Client Namehere to answer] becomes...
[Client Name]



When you add information to a document property content control of a document (like Publish Date) what you add is stored not just in the content control, but is mapped to that XML part. When you delete the content control, the information is still in the XML part and in the document property. When you reinsert the content control, it references the part and supplies your information. See Repeating Data Using Document Properties Content Controls and Other Mapped Content Controls


This will not happen with an unmapped content control.

Thank you for your reply,

When I edit the place holder text it is always while in design mode.

Thank you for the link you provided, I have been using this as a reference before sending this query.

The repeating information because it is locked into xml is there anyway to reset or erase it?

I am still wondering how to make it so that when you click on the field it selects all of the placeholder text, rather than just place my cursor into the placeholder text.

Thanks!

In my experience, IF the content control is showing placeholder text, your cursor would select the entire CC. However if the CC is containing text that happens to correspond with the 'placeholder text' then you would get the result you are seeing.

Select the content of the CC and press Delete. Does it still behave the same way?

__________________
Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia

Frankly, for a facility as useful as content controls, Microsoft's implementation of the means of entering them is weak at best.

To overcome the limitations I produced https://www.gmayor.com/insert_content_control_addin.htm which makes the insertion of the types of controls most used (and mapped versions of those controls) a breeze and it retains preferences. You can enter your own placeholder text (or type the placeholder text in the document and select it before running the process and it will use that text as placeholder) and if you click in such a field, whatever you have used as placeholder text, the whole of that placeholder text is selected.

__________________
Graham Mayor - MS MVP (Word) (2002-2019)
Visit my web site for more programming tips and ready made processes www.gmayor.com