I have to add the the file name plus the extension in ti the footer. now i go to the footer go to quickparts than fields and than go to "file name". the file name then appears without the extension and the only options i can see that i can change is only to add the file path or just the look of it. where am i going wrong?

Thank you for any help

You are not going wrong. However, that field displays the filename as seen by Windows. If Windows is displaying extensions of known filetypes, then Word will as well. In short, you have to change your Windows options, and even then you have no control over the settings on someone else's computer.

Microsoft is trying to protect us from those scary filename extensions that remind people that this is really a DOS operating system and not a Mac.

Thanks for your help that enplanes everything. I like the way you are putting it. I is good to see that there are still some people that can see behind the curtains