# About Fields

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About Fields
Fields are used for data that changes in a document, such as the current date or the total number of pages in a document.
Viewing Fields
Fields consist of a field name and the field content. To switch the field display between the field name or the field content, choose View - Field Names.
To display or hide field highlighting in a document, choose View - Field Shadings. To permanently disable this feature, choose %PRODUCTNAME - Preferences Tools - Options - $[officename] - Appearance, and clear the check box in front of Field shadings.
To change the color of field shadings, choose %PRODUCTNAME - Preferences Tools - Options - $[officename] - Appearance, locate the Field shadings option, and then select a different color in the Color setting box.
Field Properties
Most field types in a document, including database fields, store and display variable values.
The following field types execute an action when you click the field:

Field Type
Property
Placeholder
Opens a dialog to insert the object for which the placeholder was set.
Insert Reference
Moves the mouse pointer to the reference.
Run macro
Runs a macro.
Input Field
Opens a dialog to edit the contents of the field.

Placeholder, hidden text, insert reference, variable, database, and user-defined fields display a help tip when you rest the mouse pointer over the field in a document. To enable this feature, ensure that the Extended Tipsoption (What's This?) is selected in the Help menu.
Updating Fields
To update all of the fields in a document, press F9, or choose Edit - Select All, and then press F9.
To update a field that was inserted from a database, select the field, and then press F9.