How to fix Includetext-bookmark - Error! Not a valid filename.

Question

How to fix Includetext-bookmark - Error! Not a valid filename.

Edmund Erikstad 20

I click CTRL+F9 and type in this:
INCLUDETEXT C:\Users\[Moderator note: personal info removed]\OneDrive - [Moderator note: personal info removed]\Dokumenter\[Moderator note: personal info removed] - Service - Dokumenter\General\2 - Service og brukermanualer\2 - Service and maintenance\20 - Master filer + Maler\4 MASTER Operations\221-005 Lubrication 50hours.docx "OP"

This results in Error! Not a valid filename.

I then right click - Edit field - Field codes and find this code:

INCLUDETEXT "C:\Users\[Moderator note: personal info removed]\OneDrive - [Moderator note: personal info removed]\Dokumenter\[Moderator note: personal info removed] - Service - Dokumenter\General\2 - Service og brukermanualer\2 - Service and maintenance\20 - Master filer + Maler\4 MASTER Operations\221-005 Lubrication 50hours.docx OP"

I then rename the code to:
INCLUDETEXT "C:\Users\[Moderator note: personal info removed]\OneDrive - [Moderator note: personal info removed]\Dokumenter\[Moderator note: personal info removed] - Service - Dokumenter\General\2 - Service og brukermanualer\2 - Service and maintenance\20 - Master filer + Maler\4 MASTER Operations\221-005 Lubrication 50hours.docx"OP"

This solves the problem, but still annoys me why it doesnt work at first input. Ive tried numerous fixes to no good.

Answer accepted by question author

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Answer 1

Stefan Blom 335.2K MVP Volunteer Moderator

The INCLUDETEXT field requires double backshlashes rather than just single ones.

Also, any bookmarks must be put outside of the path, as suggested by Gabriel-N.

See https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/field-codes-includetext-field-1c34d6d6-0de3-4b5c-916a-2ff950fb629e .

Edmund Erikstad 20 Reputation points

2026-03-07T10:10:20.3166667+00:00

I've tried that numerous times. Doesnt work unless I go into edit field-field codes and move the double backlashes infront of bookmark.
Seems to me that whatever I do, word reads everything after INCLUDETEXT as filename.
Stefan Blom 335.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-03-07T11:19:28.0933333+00:00

You'll need quotation marks too, of course, as Gabriel-N said. Perhaps you have already considered that suggestion.

To rule out any issues with the path being incorrectly interpreted by the field, try with a document in a different location whose path doesn't have any plus signs in it, for example. (These days, when we are using a mix of different platforms, it isn't always easy to tell which characters will cause trouble in file paths.)
Edmund Erikstad 20 Reputation points

2026-03-07T11:47:11.6866667+00:00

I am sorry, misread your comment.
I tested now and after I go into field code and update, the filename is edited by word with double backlashes.
I tried reading the manuals, but is there a way to copy filepath with double backlashes instead of single?
Stefan Blom 335.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-03-07T15:30:09.7166667+00:00

is there a way to copy filepath with double backlashes instead of single?

As far as I know, the double backslashes are only used by the INCLUDETEXT field. I am not aware of creating those double backslashes automatically. Using Find & Replace might be an option of course.

Answer 2

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Hello Edmund Erikstad

Thank you for reaching out to the Q&A Forum.

The official and documented syntax of the INCLUDETEXT field is: { INCLUDETEXT "filename" bookmark } where the file path must be provided as a single quoted argument, and the bookmark name must be specified as a separate parameter outside the quotation marks.

In your first and second examples, the error occurs because the file path is not fully enclosed in quotation marks when Word initially parses the field, which leads to the “Error! Not a valid filename” message.

When the field is written as: INCLUDETEXT "C:\...\221-005 Lubrication 50hours.docx"OP"

Word is able to correctly detect the content inside the double quotation marks as a valid file path and successfully locate the source document. It then resolves OP as the bookmark within that document.

Although this format works, it does not strictly follow the documented syntax. My understanding is that this behavior is likely due to Word’s tolerant field‑code parsing. When Word detects a valid document extension (such as .docx) followed by additional characters that cannot be part of a filename, it may attempt to recover by implicitly separating the trailing text and interpreting it as the bookmark name.

This behavior also aligns with the documentation : How to Use IncludeText Fields, which notes that file path handling in INCLUDETEXT fields can be intermittent and unreliable when the syntax is not explicit.

This documentation also suggests the following workarounds to improve reliability:

Workaround 1: Use relative file paths and define a Hyperlink Base under File > Properties, so Word consistently resolves relative paths from that base location.

Workaround 2: Use absolute file paths stored in a custom document property (File > Properties > Custom) and reference that property via a DOCPROPERTY field, for example: { INCLUDETEXT "{ DOCPROPERTY LinkFilePath }Source.docx" Bookmark }

Note: This information is provided as a convenience to you. These sites are not controlled by Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks before using any suggestions from the above link.

I hope this explanation helps clarify the observed behavior. If you have any other questions, please feel free to let me know.

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How to fix Includetext-bookmark - Error! Not a valid filename.

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