Open and Repair

[RPMitchal]

Word 2003.

I would like to use the *Open and Repair* feature for some of what I
believe to be corrupt files. However, I do not have the down arrow beside
the *open* button which activates the *Open and Repair* option on the
computer that I use at the office.

I do have the option on my home computer which also runs on Word 2003. Is
there something that I need to change or reset in order to be furnished with
the down arrow and the applicable options?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance - Rod

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

In setup, advanced customization for Word 2003, I see an option for Repair
broken text. Here, it's set to "open on first use", and I have the arrow
next to open. If that's set to Not Available, it might be affecting what
you're seeing.

If not, then I wonder if a policy setting made by a "well intentioned"
administrator has made the option not available.

 

[RPMitchal]

Hello Herb:

When you mention "set-up" and "advanced customization for Word 2003" are you
talking about the executable file set-up for initially installing Word?

Regardless, it's worth investigating. Many thanks to you for the
suggestion. I appreciate it and will keep you posted on whether that is the
answer to my particular situation.

Rod

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

I'm talking about Control Panel - Add/Remove Programs - Office 2003 (or Word
2003), etc. (If you're using Vista, look for Programs and Features in
Control Panel.)

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

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

"Repair broken text" has nothing to do with the Open and Repair feature.
It's a longstanding option that's related, I believe, to Asian text.

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

Ah. It's called "grasping at straws". So, the problem might be a registry
issue or a policy setting. I've never seen the arrow not be present next to
the Open button.

(I see now that "repair broken text" is subsumed under the "broken fonts
add-in" -- as described at
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/HA011402341033.aspx.)

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

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

As Suzanne indicates, my grasp at the "broken text" straw is not related to
Open and Repair. I think the more central issue is that you're missing the
dropdown arrow next to Open. I would try the following diagnostics, each a
little more drastic than the preceding:

1. Ask a co-worker to see if Open is missing the arrow on their
installation. If so, then it's likely a policy issue. If you have system
administrator... find out why they're blocking this useful/essential
feature.

2. Open Word with the /a switch (Start - Run - type winword.exe, and press
Enter). Is the arrow still missing? If so, then it's probably a registry
issue. I would try renaming or deleting the Data key in the registry:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Data

*Standard disclaimer: editing the registry can cause problems if you mess
up, and can destabilize the rotation of the planet. Proceed at your own
risk.*

3. If the arrow was still missing, try starting Word in Safe mode. Press
Ctrl when you open Word, and click Yes to starting in Safe mode. Is the
arrow still missing now? If not, then I would suspect that an add-on is
interfering with Word's normal file handling. Are you using a file
management sytem of some kind? If so, try disabling the add-in. Tools -
Templates and Add-ins.

4. Create a new Windows user, and see if the arrow is missing for that user.
If so, I would suspect an installation issue... talk the the system
administrator, and if the Open options aren't missing by design, then try
Help - Detect and Repair from Word's menu. If the arrow is NOT missing for
the new user login, then something is seriously wrong with your own Windows
profile. At this point, I usually end up switching to the new profile.

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