document has lost reference

[Lina]

Hi
I have some problems with document that looses their references to other
templates after a word crash. I have read that the course for this can be
that a word crash leaves the temp file version of the file. And the solution
is to remove those files. I just wonder if my "design" of templates is wrong
and if there is a better way to solve my problem? Here is what I have done:

I have made some templates. They all have the same functionality, extra
buttons, menus etc but the layout differs between them, the functions must be
uppdated from time to time. For that reason I made one template code.dot that
contains all the code. Then I have made templets with onley the layout, f ex
letter.dot. This template references to code.dot.
I also have a globel.dot in the startupfolder that contains a menu and some
code.

I made it like this to separate the code from the layout and so that I just
have to change the code in one file and not in all 20 templates. But it looks
like this give me the referenceproblem. Is there a better way to solve this?
Thanks!

 

[Rob]

If you want to have code that is used in many different templates then the
referenced template is the most efficient way that I know of. Yes, Word does
get goofy with references. I've found that when I work on a template with (or
that is) a reference I must ensure that no one else can open (or has opened)
it. If not I'll get the temp file reference set when I save it.

The issue with Word crashing isn't something I've seen but I can imagine
that it would be problematic just from the way Word handles references. Do
you let Word "recover" your file after a crash or do you just scrap it and
start over?

 

[Lina]

Thanks for your answer
I usually just start word over again.

 

[Rob]

So, when you start word again the panel comes up on the left and asks if you
want word to recover the document and you ignore it?

I'm not sure what's going on but I'd suggest two things that helped with my
reference problems.
1) Make sure no one can open the referenced templates while you're working
on them. It's best to have a copy that you work on and then replace the
original with the copy when you're done.
2) Delete any temp files left after a word crash. They are usually in
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Temp. The file names
usually start with "~WRD"

 

[Lina]

Thanks, I will try that.