Bad Normal.dot (2002)

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I had a bad Normal.dot file. I renamed it and then opened Word again. I read that if you renamed or deleted your Normal.dot file that Word would create a new one when you opened it. In my case, it is not being created.

I can copy my macros to the Normal.dot global template and use them but when I close Word and reopen it, they are gone. The same thing happens when I customize my toolbar. They are lost and Normal.dot was still not created.

So I created my own MyFile.dot with macros copies over from by old template. I closed Word and then create a document with the MyFile.dot template and the macros are not there.

My major problem is why my Normal.dot file is not being saved when there was none and why can’t I save my macros in a new template and then lose those macros?

Anyone have any ideas?

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Remember that EACH account has their own Normal.dot, are you sure you are clearing the right one?

Using XP, the user template can be found at “C:Documents and Settings(User name)Application DataMicrosoftTemplates” .

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Dave, yes I made sure it was my account and not someone else’s.

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Word will not create a new Normal.dot file until it is needed to store some customizations. But creating or copying macros to Normal.dot should cause it to be saved. So you may have more problems than just Normal.dot. Try Phil Rabichow’s Systematic Approach to Behavioral Problems in Word.

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Han’s, I tried Phil’s approach and wasn’t successful. I was hoping that the last step, deleting the Data key and letting Word rebuild it, would fix the problem but not such luck. It’s acting like I’m running Word with the /a switch and bypassing templates and add-ins but I’m running it without switches. Whatever’s causing the problem, it is very frustrating.

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Select Tools | Options…
Activate the Save tab.
Tick the check box “Prompt to save Normal template”, then click OK.
If you create a macro in Normal.dot, then exit Word, do you get prompted?

Also: if you record a macro in Normal.dot and activate the Visual Basic Editor, can you view the macro code?
What happens if you make sure that Normal is selected in the Project Explorer on the left hand side, then select File | Save Normal?

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Hans, you are on to something. I ticked “Prompt to save Normal Template” and then created a macro directly in VBE. I ran the macro successfully. Then exited Word and I got no prompt to save the Normal template.

I then recorded a macro and then viewed the code in the NewMacro module. Exited Word and then opened Word and the recorded macro was NOT there and the NewMacro module was not there either. And once again I got no prompt to save Normal template. Is there anything else I can try?

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Have you tried

> What happens if you make sure that Normal is selected in the Project Explorer on the left hand side, then select File | Save Normal?

from my previous reply?

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I apologize for not testing that one. I was anxious to test the others that I missed this one.

I was able to do File | Save and the Normal template was indeed saved to my template folder. I exited windows and then open it again and I got an error message that said Word encountered an error and wants to close. The only thing in the Normal template was that one macro. I then renamed the Normal template and opened Word without a problem. It seems to be something wrong with the way it is saving the Normal template.

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When you went through Phil Rabichows trouble shooting steps, did you notice any add-ins (global templates)? The most probable explanation seems to me to be an add-in that interferes with Normal.dot.

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I used the COM Add-Ins method to look at the add-ins and templates. It only shows two: Microsoft Word East European Fonts Tools and Web Page Wizard. Both were unchecked so I assume they wouldn’t cause the problem.

I do have Adobe Acrobat version 7.0 on my menu bar but that was there before I started having this problem.

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Still, the Adobe add-in is known to cause all kinds of problems. Try disabling it, at least temporarily.

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How do I disable it?

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Through the Add or Remove Programs control panel.
Locate Adobe Acrobat 7 and click Change/Remove.
Click Next, then Modify, then Next.
Expand Create Adobe PDF > Acrobat PDFMaker > Microsoft Office.
Select ‘This feature will not be available’.
Click Next etc.

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Thank you Hans. I follow the steps and after I clicked Change/Remove I came across the company’s security prevention messages and it wouldn’t let me go any further. Sigh. Unless there is something else to try, I will have to talk with our IT department about disabling it.

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(Edited by HansV to make URL clickable – see Help 19)

I found this article on the Adobe website. I think it is related to the problem I have. Would you concure?

http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewConten…ternalId=331259%5B/url%5D

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Might well be. Do you have the latest update for Acrobat 7?

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No I don’t. I only have release 7.0. I did follow their suggestion in step 3 to put a Save All button on my toolbar and low and behold it did save my macro this time! But I will pursue this with our IT dept and have them install the updated release since their security measures won’t let me do it.

Thank you for your time and your patience. It’s much appreciated.

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For what it’s worth, not only did the Adobe add-in (PDFMaker) cause me much grief in the past, but the Documentum add-in was also notorious for causing the same problem on my machine. In fact, while Adobe caused that problem for me on past configurations/installations, the Documentum one was the most recent culprit.

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Once you add your macros or make any changes, simply hold down your Shift key and click on File | Save All. The next time you open Word all your macros, etc. should be there for you. It is a glitch that comes with Acrobat 7. It sees the changes and cleans them out, but once you click on Shift |Save All, you should be good to go.

http://www.carolscorneroffice.com[/url%5D

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Thank you for the tip for finding the Save All menu item.

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Thanks for the heads up on Documentum. It’s always good to be warned before it happens.

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