word default problems

[Bronach Johnston]

hello all

since installing word 2004 (trial edition)i have run into a persistent problem.
every time i open a new document i have to tell each document what
language i wish to use even though, when i save, i click the 'default' button
and i am told that this will change the default template, it doesn't have any
affect on new documents.

it looks like either my 'default' template is not changed or each new
document is not using that template, either way i have to explicitly tell each
document which language to use . frustrating !

other changes seem to work from my prefs, e.g. ignoring capitalization
anyone else have a problem like this

thanks
bronach

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi Bronach,

Try this: Open your Normal template directly. By default, the Normal
template is stored in your Microsoft User Data (MUD) folder. When it's
open, go to Tools>Language, set the language as you want, do a Save and
close Normal. Does that do it? If not, it's possible that your Normal
template is damaged. To test it, follow this procedure:

Quit Word and navigate to your Normal template which should be in
~/Microsoft User Data/Normal. Rename Normal to something else (like
OldNormal), then relaunch Word. If this fixes the problem but you have
customizations, etc, in OldNormal that you want to maintain, you can use
Organizer to transfer those from OldNormal to the newly-created Normal
template. Then you can trash the old renamed file. To learn how to use
Organizer, see here (if you're using Safari you may have to refresh the page
a couple times):
<http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/MacWordNormal.htm>

If this doesn't fix the problem, quit Word again, trash the new Normal and
rename OldNormal back to Normal.

Hope this helps.

--
Beth Rosengard
Mac MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/index.htm>
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org>

 

[Bronach]

Hi Beth

Thanks for your suggestions ... however there seem to be some
fundamental problems with my office setup. I reinstalled the trial
office suite from scratch but I don't have a Microsoft User Data (MUD)
folder!! i created one and created a normal template in there, bust
still no luck.

This is very confusing.

any more suggestions?

Bronach

 

[Dayo Mitchell]

Hi Bronach,

What's your OS version?

For OS X, the MUD folder should be in the Documents folder in your Username
folder. Make sure you are looking in the user name folder. It *might* be
named Home on a default installation.

Did you delete the Test Drive by running the Remove tool before reinstalling
it?

DM

 

[Bronach]

Hi Dayo

I located the MUD dir where u suggested. The normal file was indeed
there. So I reinstalled the test drive and Removed the previous
version as u suggested but still no joy.

Is it correct that I have to tell each document what language it
should be using? I seem to remember a version I used at work (windoze)
didn't need that. Is this a new 'feature' of mac office 2004 ?

aaargh !!

also, i have to specify a dictionary to use in the prefs each time,
otherwise the grammar part of 'check spelling and grammar' is grayed
out.


something strange going on with my word prefs


any other ideas .... appreciated

bronach

 

[Dayo Mitchell]

Hi Bronach,

You should not need to tell Word what language you are using every time. If
the Language of the text is set properly, I think Spelling and Grammar
should find the right dictionary without you bothering with prefs.

Try this:
Format | Style, find Normal in the left column, click Modify, use the
Format dropdown menu to set the Language to whatever you like. Be sure to
check "add to template" but *not* "automatically update".
Assuming you have not changed your default style (you would know if you had)
this should change the language for initial text in every new document (but
not fix anything retroactively). To get text to test it, you can insert an
old file into a new blank doc. To make sure your text is in Normal, there's
a style menu in the Formatting toolbar that also says what style the cursor
is currently in.

You can test your preferences:
~ stands for your username directory.

Quit Word, then Find this file
~/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/com.microsoft.Word.prefs.plist
And drag it to the desktop. Restart Word, it will create a new prefs file.
If problem cease your prefs were corrupt and you can trash the old set. If
problems continue you can drag the old set back to replace the new set.

Also test the Normal template, for which Beth gave directions, but I think
you didn't do b/c you couldn't find the MUD folder. Be sure to delete that
MUD folder and Normal that you created, to prevent confusing yourself. Stop
reinstalling--it only works if you run the remover tool *first*.

Hope something helps.

Dayo

 

[Bronach]

Hi Dayo

I'm running OSX 10.3.4

I replied already today but the reply didn't show up here, so here
goes again...

I followed your advice and used the Remove tool before reinstalling
office again. Then I opened the 'normal' template and changed the
language to english (uk) and chose it as default also.

Then I closed everything opened word again, opened a new document,
started typing but the problem persists. The Compatibility Report
complained again that 'word cannot identify text language'

When I open the prefs I can only see the spelling options, the Grammar
is grayed out until i enter some text highlight it and tell the
document to use english.

So it just won't keep the default setting for the language.

any more ideas ? appreciate it.

thanks
Bronach

 

[Bronach]

Dayo, Beth

I tried all your suggestions (they made perfect sense) but still no
joy. I'm in the same position as before. I can boot up thru another
drive on 10.3.3, install the trial version there and see what happens.
there must be something corrupt on my boot system to prevent this from
working. It makes no sense.

thanks for your help, i'll pot here later and let u know how i got on.


bronach