Note
This content applies to the desktop versions of Word for Windows and Mac (including Word with a Microsoft 365 subscription).
The CreateDate field inserts the date and time that a document was first saved using its current name. This information is recorded on the Statistics tab in the Properties dialog box. To view the Properties dialog box, select the File tab > Info > Properties (on the right side), and then select Advanced Properties.
Unless you select a different format, the date and time are displayed in the format specified as part of the regional settings in the Windows Control Panel.
Syntax
When you view the CreateDate field code in your document, the syntax looks like this:
{ CREATEDATE [ \@ "Date-Time Picture"] [Switches]}
Note
A field code tells the field what to display. Field results are what is shown in the document after having evaluated the field code. To toggle between viewing the field code and the field code results, press Alt+F9 (or Fn+Option+F9 on a Mac).
Switches
\@ "Date-Time Picture"
Specifies a date and time format other than the default format. If you select a format in the Field dialog box, Word inserts a corresponding date-time picture switch.
To view the Field dialog box, on the Insert tab, in the Text group, select Quick Parts > Field.
To use a format that's not listed in the Field dialog box, select Field Codes and type the format switch directly in the Field codes box.
\h
Specifies use of the Hijri/Lunar calendar.
\s
Specifies use of the Saka Era calendar.
Examples
To print the same text on each page of a document (such as "This deposition taken November 20, 2016."), insert the following text and field in a header or footer:
This deposition taken { CREATEDATE \@ "MMMM d, yyyy" }.