Entire text has disappeared in Microsoft Word, only footnotes are visible

This has happened twice. A solution below (it is pretty complicated but works).

1. What happens is that while updating the table (F9) one might accidentally press Alt-F9, and then select all text. This converts it all into a field.

2. How to undo this is impossible manually. It requires a MACRO.

3. See this first – how to install a macro in the Word document: https://www.gmayor.com/installing_macro.htm

4. Then install this macro:

Sub ExtractFieldCode()

    ' Jay Freedman

    ' https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/code-field/5f5f839e-581b-4578-b446-391b635b4af3

    '

    Dim rg As range

    If ActiveDocument.Fields.Count = 0 Then

        MsgBox "This document contains no fields."

        Exit Sub

    End If

    With ActiveDocument

        .ActiveWindow.View.ShowFieldCodes = True

        .Fields(1).Code.Cut

        .range.PasteSpecial DataType:=WdPasteDataType.wdPasteHTML

        .ActiveWindow.View.ShowFieldCodes = False

    End With

End Sub

5. Now run the macro!

DONE – THE ORIGINAL TEXT WILL RETURN.

Note: it is possible that a few problems might emerge in the text that has been retrieved. I had a to manuall fix some of these problems, but it was far better than re-typing material that I had lost.