Author Information

You can control author information (metadata) in Microsoft Word.  Microsoft Word has five areas that collect Author information:

• User Name
• User Initials
• Document Author
• Manager
• Last Author

User Name and User Initials Control it All

The User Name and User Initials control what ends up is diplayed in the others author properties of a Microsoft Word document.  User Name and User Initials are found in Tools…Options…User Information tab (see Figure 1).


Figure 1 User Information tab

Unless you need your actual author name in this property for collaborative purposes, I'd advise changing user information to something more generic (see Figure 2).

Figure 2 User Information tab – generic

Document Author and Manager Properties

Microsoft Word's Document Author and Manager properties (metadata) are contained in the built-in document properties of a document (see Figure 3).  The document author is pulled from the User Information settings (see Figure 1), and is inserted when the document is created. and This information stays with the a document until changed or deleted.

Note: Dupe and revise (File…Save As) doesn't change this.


Figure 3 Document Author and Manager properties

View (or Change) the Built-In Document Properties for the Current Document

Word 2003

1. On the File menu, click Properties.
2. Click the General tab to view file information Auto Update built-in document properties.
3. Click the Summary tab to view Standard Built-in document properties.
   Note: These properties can be changed or deleted.

Click the Statistics tab to view statistical Auto Update Built-in document properties.

The Manager Document Property

The Manager Property is a user input property. That means one has to manually place text here.  I have found though, that some template and macro applications use this field for automation purposes and place author information in this property.   Be aware of this property in any case!
Note: Dupe and revise (File…Save As) doesn't change this.

Last Saved By Author

Microsoft Word automatically pulls the author from the User Information property (See Figure 1) for the last saved by author.  This property CANNOT be controlled unless you change the User Information Author.  My recommendation is to change the User Information Author to a generic name.