New Autotext Entries Not Available after Word Exit/Open

[DeanH]

Word 2003 SP2 on XP SP2

I am trying to save two new Autotext entries but they will not remain after
a session close.

They have unique names that do not clash with any other entries.

All my other autotext entries are available, regardless of which template I
am in, but since upgrading to XP from 2000, this is the first time I am
creating new entries, and they will not stay available when I exit Word and
reopen. They are available as long as the session is open, even if no
documents are open.

I have tried creating them several ways, i.e. Alt-F3 and Autotext-Add, as
well as on different templates including "All active templates", also
directly within the templates as well as a new documents.

Hopefully it is as simple as a menu check box that needs attention.

Many thanks
DeanH

 

[Summer]

Go to Tools Options Save and check Box "Prompt to Save Normal Template". If
you don't have a macro or remember to change the template your Autotext will
default to Normal.dot.
For a template to update (Normal.dot or any template) this option must be
checked and you must answer "yes" on exiting Word sessions otherwise your
new autotext entries will be deleted.

 

[DeanH]

Many thanks Summer.
Unfortunately this has not worked. The entries are still being deleted upon
Exit.
But saying that, I am not getting the prompt to save the normal.dot template.
Any other ideas?

Thanks
DeanH

 

[Summer]

Hi,
Is your Autotex Toolbar turned on? Turn it on and set the Active Template to
your preferred template to read autotext and save to from.

Save your entries again and check they are in the list. Close Word session
(x) top right corner - you should be asked to save the xxxxx.dot for any
templates you have add things to be it Normal.dot or mytemplate.dot and so
on? It should say "Changes have been made that affect the Normal.dot
template do you wish to save changes? Yes No Cancel

If you have mytemplate.dot (in your global STARTUP path) you will be asked
to save template as Word session closes.

 

[Summer]

Your startup global path is:
C:\Documents and Settings\DeanH\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP

"DeanH" will show or whatever your user name. This where you keep your
mytempate.dot with your personal autotext entries
OR
C:\Documents and Settings\DeanH\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates
Is where Normal.dot resides.

 

[DeanH]

I usually don't have the toolbar visible, as I know the "shortcuts". Anyway,
I have followed your suggestions below, sorry, but no banana.
Still not getting prompt to save template changes. I check that the new
entry is available before closing; even, while still in the same session,
creating a new document from a dfifferent temple the new entry is available.
I have checked that the "Prompt to change normal template" is still checked,
it is.

Many thanks for your help.
DeanH

 

[Summer]

Your installation must rather peculiar?

I usually don't have the toolbar visible, as I know the "shortcuts".
Anyway,
I have followed your suggestions below, sorry, but no banana.
Still not getting prompt to save template changes. I check that the new
entry is available before closing; even, while still in the same session,
creating a new document from a dfifferent temple the new entry is
available.
I have checked that the "Prompt to change normal template" is still
checked,
it is.

Many thanks for your help.
DeanH

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

Is normal.dot set as Read Only? Or, are you on a network in which some
well-meaning admin has toyed with the policy settings, preventing Word for
doing what it's supposed to do? If not those, then...

With "Prompt to save normal" enabled (so you can see if it gets saved),
create a new AutoText entry, press the Shift key and choose File - Save All
(pressing the Shift key causes Save All to be available in the File menu in
Word 2003 and earlier). Is Normal.dot among the files that Word now offers
to save?

The problem might be a corrupted registry entry (often the Data key, which I
would try renaming or deleting), a corrupted Normal.dot (which I would try
renaming, to see if starting with a pristine Normal.dot makes the problem go
away), or an add-in that's running interference (perhaps setting Normal.dot
to "Not dirty" at the end of each session, thereby preventing changes from
being saved--I would try disabling add-ins to see if there is a particularly
one that's screwing things up).

 

[DeanH]

All of my templates are located in:
C:\Documents and Settings\DeanH\Application Data\Microsoft\Office\User
Templates
and the Startup is as you state below.

The templates all appear as usual when doing New document.
I have no problems with any of my templates, including Normal.dot. I have
done some edits to the templates to test and these are all working fine.
I even changed a Style in a document and included "Add to template", this
change was reflected in the template after Exit/Open.

But the autotext entry which I created in that same session, on same
document does not survive the closure.

Could there be a problem with the Autotext "macro"? Where is this kept and
what should it look like?

Sorry about this, but you may be right, I must have a very peculiar setup!
DeanH

 

[Summer]

Me thinks you may be trying to add auotext to a xxxx.doc (document) not a
xxxx.dot (template).

You can only do that with vba autotext can only save to a xxxx.dot template
(.dot).

 

[DeanH]

Many thanks Mr Tyson
[not sure of your relationship with Mike, so I am being extra polite ;-)]

The Shift File, Save All worked.
I have tested it and the settings for new entries are saved and deleting the
test entries I have had are gone for good.

What has caused this?
Obviously I would prefer to to have to remember to do SaveAll everytime I
tinker, I am bound to forget.
Is renaming Normal, and letting a new one be created a good option? I would
prefer to stay away from the registry at all costs.
If it is a registry issue, would not the new Normal.dot be created with the
same problem?

Many thanks again.
DeanH

 

[DeanH]

Many thanks Summer. Please see Mr Herb Tyson's reply which has enabled the
saving of the autotext entry changes.

As mentioned before, I have tried within documents as well as templates in
desperation, nothing working.
I have made edits to a template, via the template itself and a document (Add
to template), etc, other than autotext and these have been automaically
saved. Only autotext seem sto have this problem of not being saved.

Herb - as other changes are saved to the normal.dot and other templates (as
apprpriate) without using the Shift-File-SaveAll technique, does this mean I
have a problem specifically with Autotext? How can autotext be "rebooted"?

Thanks again
DeanH

 

[Summer]

Thank you Herb.

Is normal.dot set as Read Only? Or, are you on a network in which some
well-meaning admin has toyed with the policy settings, preventing Word for
doing what it's supposed to do? If not those, then...

With "Prompt to save normal" enabled (so you can see if it gets saved),
create a new AutoText entry, press the Shift key and choose File - Save
All (pressing the Shift key causes Save All to be available in the File
menu in Word 2003 and earlier). Is Normal.dot among the files that Word
now offers to save?

The problem might be a corrupted registry entry (often the Data key, which
I would try renaming or deleting), a corrupted Normal.dot (which I would
try renaming, to see if starting with a pristine Normal.dot makes the
problem go away), or an add-in that's running interference (perhaps
setting Normal.dot to "Not dirty" at the end of each session, thereby
preventing changes from being saved--I would try disabling add-ins to see
if there is a particularly one that's screwing things up).


--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[Summer]

Here is macro link
autotextloader2.zip Utility for loading a large number of AutoText entries
into a template. Word 2000-2003 only. There is a dumper utility also.

You should perhaps create a new personal autotext .dot and save it in your
STARTUP path not TEMPLATES - this way it will load when you log in and be
available to you - you can set your Active Templates to read from this
template only.
Go to Tools Options File Locations and check that all is correct for your
STARTUP path to your c:\ as you stated previously and your User Templates go
to your c:\ Templates as previously stated. Your Workgroup templates would
obviously be directed to the server if you are on a network.

 

[DeanH]

Many thanks Summer.

Thanks for the dump macro, I shall test it later.
Also when I have time I shall create the Autotext.dot.
This shall also allow quick transfer of autotext entries to new machines [if
I get the new job I am awaiting confirmation for ;-)]

The locations were directly copied from File Locations so are correct.

Again thanks for you perserverance.
DeanH

 

[Summer]

No problem -

http://jay-freedman.info/ (is utility download area)

Many thanks Summer.

Thanks for the dump macro, I shall test it later.
Also when I have time I shall create the Autotext.dot.
This shall also allow quick transfer of autotext entries to new machines
[if
I get the new job I am awaiting confirmation for ;-)]

The locations were directly copied from File Locations so are correct.

Again thanks for you perserverance.
DeanH

Here is macro link
autotextloader2.zip Utility for loading a large number of AutoText
entries
into a template. Word 2000-2003 only. There is a dumper utility also.

You should perhaps create a new personal autotext .dot and save it in
your
STARTUP path not TEMPLATES - this way it will load when you log in and be
available to you - you can set your Active Templates to read from this
template only.
Go to Tools Options File Locations and check that all is correct for your
STARTUP path to your c:\ as you stated previously and your User Templates
go
to your c:\ Templates as previously stated. Your Workgroup templates
would
obviously be directed to the server if you are on a network.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Actually, this is not true. If you don't check "Prompt to save Normal
template," Word just doesn't have to ask your permission to do so, and
Normal.dot is saved automatically if it has been modified. The most common
reason for Normal.dot not to be saved is an interfering add-in, such as that
for Adobe Acrobat 7.0, about which see the last section of
http://www.gmayor.com/lose_that_adobe_acrobat_toolbar.htm.

Note that you can force a save of Normal.dot at any time by pressing
Shift+File | Save All.

 

[DeanH]

Many thansk Suzanne.
This has solved the issue and I am know creating Autotext entries like mad ;-)
Spot on as usual.
Best regards
DeanH

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Glad I could help.