Can't find workgroup template in Word 2004 that was created on Word 2003

[gwieland]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I have a very complex VB macro that I have stored in a workgroup template on a network server. Both the Mac and the PC versions of Word, reference this template via the "File Location:Workgroup Templates" in the preferences. Word 2003 (PC) opens documents based on this template no problem every time. I can open a document based on this template in Word 2004 (Mac) after it has been saved by Word 2003 (PC). But, if I save the document on the Mac and try to reopen it, it can't find the template. I try to use 'Templates and Add-ins' to re-attach but it says it "Can't connect to a protected Template' (the template is protected for security reasons- even if I unprotect it says the same thing).

If I open the document in Word 2003 (PC) and re-save, I can then open and run the macros in Word 2004 (Mac). But as soon as I save and reopen the document it says it cannot find the template. I can put the template in the start-up folder of every Mac machine and it will load the template every time, but that defeats the purpose of having "Workgroup Templates" (i.e. having to put a copy of this template on everybody's Mac).

Any ideas?

 

[John McGhie]

I suspect you may be being caught by the bug in Word 2004 that opens a
Template as a "Template".

If you double-click a template in any other version of Word, the file you
get handed is a DOCUMENT of type ".doc" which is based upon, and linked to,
the template you chose. You can save that file wherever you wish.

If you double-click a template in Mac Word X/2004, the file you get handed
is the TEMPLATE itself, a file of type ".dot". When you attempt to save,
you will be directed to save in "My Templates".

The .dot and .doc file types are not equivalent, they have a different
internal structure. This bug was fixed in Word 2008.

In the meantime: Either your file is a ".dot" and is not where you think it
is, or it's a ".dot" and because you have the Finder set to show you
"Documents" it will not show you "Templates".

Use File>Open and choose "All Files" to see if it's in the folder you think
it is, or look in "My Templates" on the Mac.

I recommend that you enable the display of file extensions in the Finder so
that you can see the difference at a glance.

Hope this helps

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I have a very complex VB macro that I have stored in a workgroup template on a
network server. Both the Mac and the PC versions of Word, reference this
template via the "File Location:Workgroup Templates" in the preferences. Word
2003 (PC) opens documents based on this template no problem every time. I can
open a document based on this template in Word 2004 (Mac) after it has been
saved by Word 2003 (PC). But, if I save the document on the Mac and try to
reopen it, it can't find the template. I try to use 'Templates and Add-ins' to
re-attach but it says it "Can't connect to a protected Template' (the template
is protected for security reasons- even if I unprotect it says the same
thing).

If I open the document in Word 2003 (PC) and re-save, I can then open and run
the macros in Word 2004 (Mac). But as soon as I save and reopen the document
it says it cannot find the template. I can put the template in the start-up
folder of every Mac machine and it will load the template every time, but that
defeats the purpose of having "Workgroup Templates" (i.e. having to put a copy
of this template on everybody's Mac).

Any ideas?

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John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]