macros disappeared!

[Steve]

I had about 10 macros in WOrd (in the global or normal template) and all of a
sudden they disappeared. Any reason for this - anyway to prevent this
happening again?

 

[Graham Mayor]

By default macros would be stored in normal.dot. You have managed to replace
normal.dot with another file that does not have your macros. As only Word
can create normal.dot correctly, it would be a good idea to start again with
a clean version for which purpose rename normal.dot normal.old. You can
then copy any customisations from old to new using the organizer. If you
find your backup of the original normal.dot, then you can copy your macros
from it, otherwise you'll have to recreate them.
See also http://www.gmayor.com/what_to_do_when_word_crashes.htm then
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Steve]

Excellent and swift response. Thankyou very much for this!

 

[John Doue]

Excellent and swift response. Thankyou very much for this!

I would like to go three steps further;

1/ I suggest that you first check if there is a normal.bak file in the
Templates directory. If there is, while Word is closed, save the
normal.dot file to normal.old for instance, rename normal.bak to
normal.dot and see if your macros are back. Reverse the process if
unsuccessful

2/ Make sure in Options, Save tag, that the option "Prompt to save
Normal Template" is checked.

3/ Being the belt and suspenders type, I use a special program
(Lifesaver) to back-up once a day my registry and other files, among
which normal.dot. Lifesaver is certainly the best investment in software
I ever made.

Best regards

 

[Graham Mayor]

1/ I suggest that you first check if there is a normal.bak file in the
Templates directory. If there is, while Word is closed, save the
normal.dot file to normal.old for instance, rename normal.bak to
normal.dot and see if your macros are back. Reverse the process if
unsuccessful

There is no function within Word that would create normal.bak - Backup of
Normal.wbk perhaps, but not if the option to save backup files is not
already set - and even then not if another document is saved over normal.dot
which is probably what happened here.

2/ Make sure in Options, Save tag, that the option "Prompt to save
Normal Template" is checked.

Good practice, but does not affect the basic issue.


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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[John Doue]

There is no function within Word that would create normal.bak - Backup of
Normal.wbk perhaps, but not if the option to save backup files is not
already set - and even then not if another document is saved over normal.dot
which is probably what happened here.


Good practice, but does not affect the basic issue.

You are right of course, but it never hurts to look in the obvious
place. You did not mention the third option I suggested, the most
important in my view, ie, saving normal.dot on a regular basis. It does
affect the basic issue, and it is the most reliable.

Regards

 

[Graham Mayor]

I have no problems with your third option - backups are always desirable.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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