<p>Apart from just inserting and parsing text into a blank Word field, is there any way to programmatically build user-defined fields and field codes into my own templates with VBA? Furthermore, is there a way to make these fields show up in the list of available fields?</p>

What had you in mind? It is possible to add custom document properties either manually or with VBA. These are the accessible as fields under DOCPROPERTY:
```
```
{ DOCPROPERTY "Test"  \* MERGEFORMAT }
```
```
You can use a macro to ensure that the custom property is added to documents:
```
```
Sub AutoNew()
Dim objCustomProperties As DocumentProperties

Set objCustomProperties = ActiveDocument.CustomDocumentProperties

objCustomProperties.Add Name:="Test", _
   Type:=msoPropertyTypeString, Value:="Blah", _
   LinkToContent:=False

End Sub
```
```
Further Information
Automacros:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa263747(office.10).aspx
Understanding Custom Document Properties in Microsoft Office Word 2003:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa537154.aspx