Fewer normal template problems with Word 2000 or 2002?

[PRR]

I have enjoyed some things about Word 2007, but I keep having problems
with macros and templates. I am wondering if (a) macros increase the
likelihood of corrupting the normal template in 2007, or (b) if the
older versions of Word had as many template problems. I have used Word
in 2000, with Office 2003, and now with Office 2007 and I don't ever
recall having as many problems as I've had with 2007.

What I'm thinking is that if it is simply a macro problem causing
corruption, I would simply use 2007 without the macros (they're nice
but I can live without them). On the other hand, if the 2007 template
is just gonna corrupt regardless, I can try older versions (I still
have CDs for them)--unless, of course, the normal template has always
been corruptible.

If the answer to both (a) and (b) is "yes," is there any other
workaround? Can one open word from another template--could I make one
based on the normal, rename it, then have Word open that?

 

[Jay Freedman]

I write a lot of macros, in many versions of Word (I usually have two or
three versions installed side by side). I have *never* had the Normal
template become corrupted in any version, although I see lots of posts about
it here and in other forums. I don't believe that Word 2007 is any more
prone to corrupted templates, and possibly less so because of the change to
the XML-based format.

I have to conclude that (a) lots of people do things they shouldn't do,
although I know of only a few things that are definitely in that category,
and (b) sometimes a Word installation just seems to be "toxic", usually
because of other programs on the same computer.

If you believe that stored macros are causing corruption of your
Normal.dotm, the fix for that is simple: save all your macros in other
templates. If you store those templates in Word's Startup folder, their
macros will be automatically available to all documents, just as if they
were in Normal.dotm. If you only need them available occasionally, you can
go to the Templates and Add-Ins dialog and load a template as an add-in for
the specific document you have open. And if that doesn't stop the
corruption, maybe one or more of the macros contain code that specifically
damages the template.

There are too many things in Word that can be accomplished only with macros
to swear off them permanently.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[PRR]

I only had 3 macros up on my QAT, and they all served simply to save
me a couple of clicks. I can live without them. I deleted the icons
for them--we'll see if that does anything. If not, I'll probably
install an older version of Word and see how that goes.

When you talk about a toxic installation caused by another program,
are there any usual suspects there I can look for?

 

[Stefan Blom]

I doubt that normal.dotm is generally more likely to corrupt in recent
versions of Word. But as a security measure you can choose to store your
macros in another template that you place in the Startup folder for Word.

 

[Stefan Blom]

To clarify: "normal.dotm" is the file name for Word 2007; I should have
written "Normal template."

 

[PRR]

Both of you have suggested placing macros in an extra template in
Word's startup folder.

If I went that route, could I still place icons for the macros on my
QAT? Or would I have to call them up via a keyboard shortcut? If not,
how then would I execute them?

 

[Graham Mayor]

You can put them on the qat associated with the add-in i.e. open the add-in
in Word to add them. Or you could create a ribbon tab for the add-in -
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Customize_Ribbon.htm and put the buttons on that.
FWIW the normal template is quite stable and not prone to loss (though with
any important file you should keep backups). As I frequently modify macros
for various tasks, it is much simpler to keep macros that may be subject to
such modification in the normal template.
--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>