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Word 2011 - Need to stop date autocorrect!

I am working on a template document, a resume. I am trying to type in a date for my work history in the form of Oct 2004. When ever I click away from that section, it automatically changes the date to 10/1/2004. It does not do this in other sections of the document, only on this date section which is in a table. I'm sure there is some kind of style assigned to it but I cannot figure out how to prevent it or change the setting. I've turned off autocorrect and looked around in the style settings and can't seem to figure out where the setting is that causes this. How do I do this?

Thanks

GrahamSkan

As far as I know, this is not standard behaviour. I can't reproduce it in my PC version (Word 2007). Guessing that your resumé isn't meant to be private, could you post the document here?

It might be a setting in the attached template, so could you post that (or a link to it) as well.

phoenix5ire

I think you just need to reformat the field/section that's giving you the incorrect format. This should give you an idea how to format the field you need, let me know if this helps resolve your issue.
How to Quickly Insert Date/Time In Word 2010 Document

farroar

ASKER

Attached is the template for the resume. If you type in "Oct 2004" into the [Start Date] portion, you will see the date format change when you click out of the section. I'm using Word 2011 for Mac OSX.
resumeTemplate.docx

farroar

ASKER

@phoenix5ire - I am unable to click and edit the date once I place it in the field. When I do right click on it I am not presented with options. If I try to insert date/time like the document you referenced suggests, the Insert->date/time option is grayed out. It is weird.

GrahamSkan

There is a DatePicker content control at that point. To change the format, select the control and choose Properties in the Controls group of the Developer tab, and enter MMM yyyy in the 'Display date like this:' box

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

phoenix5ire

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farroar

ASKER

Thanks for the detailed help! Unfortunately it didn't work. I did some searching online and it seems that many of the content control features available in the Windows version of Office aren't available in the Mac version, of which I am using. I tried to copy and paste the formatting that you did on the template, but once I clicked out again it changed back! The developer tab doesn't have the same options you have. I've included a screen shot of what my developer tab looks like as well as a pop-up menu that represents a right click on the element in question.

I'll keep poking around to see if I can find it. I may be SOL on this one and will have to use the full date format but it seems to me there should be a way to adjust this. Maybe I have to redefine the style element and delete this one?
Screen-Shot-2013-05-21-at-10.39..png

farroar

ASKER

Figured it out. I had to delete all of the contents in the table for the date then type it in again. After deleting the elements, the date didn't get changed back to the predefined format.

Good to know though! Seems Mac version is lacking some of the functionality of the Windows version.

farroar

ASKER

Even though the solution wasn't provided for Mac Office 2011, the poster gave great information on the topic.