Autocorrect has reverted to the default content

[Neil]

Autocorrect has changed

The Autocorrect content in my Word 2000 has changed, apparently
spontaneously. It's been running on this XP machine for six months or more,
having been successfully migrated from an ME machine where it had been for
several years. Instead of the collection of terms that I have gradually
built up, it has now reverted to what seems to be the default collection,
practically all of which I deleted (or at any rate had apparently deleted) a
long time ago. I use it primarily to speed up typing, rather than to correct
spelling. Purely as a couple of examples, I have 'info' for 'information'
and 'manu' for 'manufacturer'. They've disappeared, and there are now words
that I would never mis-spell (says he, modestly), such as abbout or abotu.

So, can anyone tell me where my custom list of words has gone, and how I can
restore it? Alternatively, if I've got to rebuild the list the hard way:

1. Does anyone know how to select and delete the ENTIRE contents of the
default list, other than by the present one-entry-at-a-time procedure, and

2. Does anyone know how to produce a paper printout of the completed and
revised list as an ultimate security backup?

Neil Translator

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

I don't know that it's an answer to your question (exactly), much less a
solution to the problem, but you might see
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/ExportAutocorrect.htm. The macro
involved here produces (AIUI) a text file of the entries.

 

[Neil]

Suzanne -

Thank you for your suggestion. Yes, I remember the MVP page: I in fact
used it when I transferred the Autocorrect list from my old ME computer to
this more modern XP machine. But in this case, it hasn't helped, I'm afraid.

Before I posted the question, I read through your saga in November with
Snickers, who had a somewhat similar problem of having lost his spelling
dictionary. I, too, have checked Tools and Customise, and followed the
various trails as far as I can. (Although not quite connected with the lost
Autocorrect problem, I found that my Custom dictionary for spelling checking
is still there, and still containing the various words that I've loaded into
over time.)

What is not good news is that I've tried Snickers' method of searching for a
known Autocorrect abbreviation. I used Search, All Files And Folders, Local
Hard Drive C: to look for 'calx', which is my speedtype Autocorrect entry for
'calculations'. Hardly the sort of word that could occur in any normal
context. As I said, not good Search didn't find it. So that seems to
say that either the custom version of Autocorrect has been deleted somehow,
or that it's been moved to somewhere that Search overlooks.

I subscribe to British Telecom's broadband security, so the Autocorrect
custom file ought not to have been destroyed by a virus. However, there's an
unfortunate difference between 'ought not to have' and 'has'. I'll do some
virus checking.

Best regards

- Neil

 

[Neil]

December 21st


Missing Autocorrect custom file


Nope - sorry: no virus found, or at any rate, that's what the virus checker
says.

- Neil

 

[Neil]

--
Neil

December 21st


Missing Autocorrect custom file

Oh yes: I've tried copying in a backup safety copy of Normal.dot, but even
with that the Autcorrect list is still the default one, i.e. not the modified
version as produced by me.

I keep backup copies of Normal.dot in various files (even on a floppy), with
the file names slightly tweaked to stop anything getting at them, but they
presumably don't store Autocorrect's files but merely store a file name path
to them.

- Neil

 

[Jay Freedman]

Oh yes: I've tried copying in a backup safety copy of Normal.dot,
but even with that the Autcorrect list is still the default one, i.e.
not the modified version as produced by me.

I keep backup copies of Normal.dot in various files (even on a
floppy), with the file names slightly tweaked to stop anything
getting at them, but they presumably don't store Autocorrect's files
but merely store a file name path to them.

- Neil

Your Normal.dot template would contain only AutoCorrect entries that you
saved as "formatted text" entries (using the option button by that name in
the AutoCorrect Options dialog).

"Plain text" entries are stored in a file that's probably located at

C:\Documents and Settings\<your name>\Application
Data\Microsoft\Office\MSO2057.acl

The number 2057 is specific for the English (UK) language setting, which I
believe is what you're using. The number for Enlish (US) is 1033.

Note that the Windows search won't find this file, or anything else under
the Application Data folder, unless you go to the Tools > Folder Options >
View dialog in Windows Explorer (a.k.a. "My Computer") and turn on the
option to show hidden folders and files.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
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