loading networked normal.dot

[Chris Dove]

Although the User templates in Word 2000 points to the users Network area it
doesn't open their normal.dot. It opens the one on the C: drive. I've
checked the Reg key also.

Any ideas??

Chris

 

[Beth Melton]

Hi Chris,

Yep - do not try to share Normal.dot.

This is not what Word was designed to do. Each user should have a copy
of Normal.dot on their own workstation.

The main reasons for this are:
1) It decreases your chances of spreading viruses (Not everyone should
share the same Kleenex!)

2) If Word can't find the network for any number of reasons, network
slow, disconnected, etc. then it will create a new Normal.dot on the
local drive. I suspect this is what you are encountering. When there
is more than one Normal.dot then this begins to cause additional
problems,errors, etc.

3) Any changes one user makes affects all users. This type of
situation can lead to various error messages and can lead to the
corruption of Normal.dot which can prevent users from starting Word.

4) Microsoft does not recommend you do this either. Additional
information can be found in this article from the MS KB
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q167/2/84.ASP

If the reason Normal.dot is setup as shared is because of global
AutoText entries, macros, styles, etc.. then these should be placed in
a separate template and folder on the server and point each users
Startup location to that folder. Upon starting the template will be
loaded as a global add-in and all items will be available to the user
and a little more protected than they would be if stored on a shared
Normal.dot.

--
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

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[Chris Dove]

Hi Beth,

I think I was a little unclear. Each user has their own location for their
Normal.dot. \\server\%username%\%userprofile%\word

The problem I had was that it wouldn't use this template after the upgrade
to Office 2000 even though it was specified to do so. I have resolved the
issue by not using the msi file from an aministrative install of office. It
just means I will have to add the CD key at every PC.

Thanks
Chris