MS Word 5.1a menu mystery

[jo]

Suddenly the View menu has replaced the last half-dozen options with a
single letter for each: a "w". All the other menus display the usual
lists, and the "w"s do what the named options usually do -- but I
would like to have the normal names back again: I can't remember what
each w stands for.

I'd be grateful for advice.

This is Word 5.1a in Classic 9.2.2 on OS 10.4.11. It's been working
fine for a couple of years -- since I migrated to OS X -- and on OS 9
for many years before that.

I tried quitting Word and relaunching, then quitting Classic and
relaunching, then doing a Restart, then replacing the Word folder with
a backup copy, then with another backup copy -- the "w"s don't go
away.

John

 

[Clive Huggan]

Hello John,

First, a deep, longing, nostalgic sigh for version 5.1a:

<siiiiiiiiiiigh>

Ah, that feels a bit better. ;-)

Unfortunately I eventually had to "up"grade to a later version to maintain
cross-platform compatibility, because almost all my colleagues are on PCs.

I became determined to triumph over the later versions and after "only" 300
hours managed to achieve the same level of expertise in Word 2001,
subsequently Word 2004 -- which I'm still using because Word 2008 is, well,
having teenage difficulties...

After 7 years on the later versions and with a substandard memory I can't
give you an explicit answer. However, I can refer you to part of the
Word:Mac MVPs' website written by the wonderful Beth Rosengard, which may
help. The pages are at:

http://word.mvps.org/Mac/TroubleshootWord2001.html

Don't be put off by the "2001" title.

This leads to:

http://word.mvps.org/Mac/Word2001Menus.html

where you'll see a good discussion of dysfunctional menus. Although the
defects there have different origins (because Word 2001 was ported from the
PC versions and 5.1a was the last of the developed-for-Mac-only versions) I
suspect they may be relevant and replacing the Word Settings file may well
solve the problem. Caveat: mists of long-lost memory are clouding over...

Now to an unpleasant thought. If you ever have to change from Word 5.1a
<deep nostalgic sigh again> because of discontinued support of Classic, you
may find some value in some notes on the way I use Word for the Mac, titled
"Bend Word to Your Will", which are available as a free download from the
Word MVPs' website (http://word.mvps.org/Mac/Bend/BendWordToYourWill.html).
As I mention in the introduction, I started compiling the notes when I was
floundering after "up"grading from Word 5.1a to Word 2001, albeit since that
time some people have gained the impression that I have been Stockholmed by
the later versions. In fact what they see is a determination to triumph over
them, despite the waste of time achieving success.

Please note that "Bend Word to your will" is designed to be used
electronically and most subjects are self-contained dictionary-style
entries. It's important to read the front end of the document -- especially
pages 3 and 5 -- so you can select some Word settings that will allow you to
use the document effectively.

Cheers, and all power to your elbow with 5.1a,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is 5-11 hours different from the Americas and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
====================================================

 

[Clive Huggan]

Sorry, John -- forgot to mention rebuilding the desktop, which is mentioned
at http://word.mvps.org/Mac/TroubleshootWord2001.html

There may be other ideas there too. But I think replacing Word's settings
file is the most promising, either by dragging out to the desktop or, if you
have customized the settings extensively, from your back-up.

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
=============

 

[Phillip Jones]

I never had the pleasure of using 5.1.a

I went from Word 6.0.1a aka Word95 directly to, 2001.

Although I did use Excel 5.0.1 a

Sorry, John -- forgot to mention rebuilding the desktop, which is mentioned
at http://word.mvps.org/Mac/TroubleshootWord2001.html

There may be other ideas there too. But I think replacing Word's settings
file is the most promising, either by dragging out to the desktop or, if you
have customized the settings extensively, from your back-up.

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
=============

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phillip M. Jones, CET |LIFE MEMBER: VPEA ETA-I, NESDA, ISCET, Sterling
616 Liberty Street |Who's Who. PHONE:276-632-5045, FAX:276-632-0868
Martinsville Va 24112 |[email protected], ICQ11269732, AIM pjonescet
------------------------------------------------------------------------

If it's "fixed", don't "break it"!

mailto[email protected]

<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/90th_Birthday/index.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Fulcher/default.html>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Harris/default.htm>
<http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/Jones/default.htm>

<http://www.vpea.org>

 

[jo]

Sorry, John -- forgot to mention rebuilding the desktop, which is mentioned
athttp://word.mvps.org/Mac/TroubleshootWord2001.html

There may be other ideas there too. But I think replacing Word's settings
file is the most promising, either by dragging out to the desktop or, if you
have customized the settings extensively, from your back-up.

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
=============

Clive -- Thanks for the advice, and for tramping down memory lane.

I did as you suggested with the settings. Word launched cheerfully,
but without creating another Settings file. I tried several times.
Including Reboot etc. The missing menu options were still missing.
As were the settings files -- I had them at first on the desktop, then
in the Trash.

Then I looked at the Troubleshoot website and tried rebuilding the
desktop -- OSX ignored the challenge, but I tried rebuild on launching
Classic and did get the dialogue box. Still no change.

Do you -- or does anyone else -- have any other ideas? As said, I did
try replacing the entire Word folder with a backup, but that didn't
bring back the missing menu options.

I do have Bend Word, but so long as Word 5 works for me I can't give
it up.

Best -- John

 

[jo]

Mystery solved!

A stray thought led me to --
Tools menu > Commands > Reset > Microsoft standard settings
Lo and behold -- all View Menu options restored to pristine glory.

May all Mac mysteries be so simply solved.

 

[Clive Huggan]

Mystery solved!

A stray thought led me to --
Tools menu > Commands > Reset > Microsoft standard settings
Lo and behold -- all View Menu options restored to pristine glory.

May all Mac mysteries be so simply solved.

Well, what a relief, John! Thank you for the feedback. And may you continue
to use version 5.1a knowing it to be the best version ever <green envy
colour>.

Cheers,

Clive
=====