Removing Content Control in Microsoft Word

When citations are inserted into a Microsoft Word document using RefWorks Citation Manager (RCM), the citations appear inside Microsoft's Content Controls.  

Removing Content Control breaks the connection between document and RCM. After removal, refresh, edit, or reformat citations using RefWorks is not possible. 
Ensure to save a copy of document first before attempting any of the steps below. 

Example of how a RefWorks citation might look when inserted with Content Control (gray box or field around the reference): 

Content control box in Microsoft Word

Shape 

Remove Content Controls

Remove All Content Controls at Once 

Open Word document and press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac) to select contents of entire document. 

Right-click anywhere in the selected text. 

Click on Remove Content Control.  

Remove Content Control in Microsoft Word

Remove Content Controls Individually 

Right-click on a citation or section that appears inside a Content Control. 

Click Remove Content Control. 

 

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