WD2001: Work Files Remain in Temporary Items Folder After a Full Save (269936)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2001 for Macintosh
This article was previously published under Q269936

SYMPTOMS

When you save a Microsoft Word 2001 for Mac document, the Word work files remain in the Temporary Items folder on your hard disk.

NOTE: To view the Word work files in the Temporary Items folder, use the Find File program, or Sherlock, to search the hard disk for a file name beginning with "Word Work File" (the file may actually be named something similar to "Word Work File xxx").

CAUSE

The Word work files remain in the Temporary Items folder because Word still references these items, even the after the document is saved. This behavior is different from earlier versions of Word for Macintosh.

If the work files remain after you quit Word and the document is closed, the work files may contain part of the text of one of the documents that was being worked on if Word was not shut down correctly, possibly because of a system error, power surge, or another problem. Word can recover these documents using the AutoRecover feature (described in the "More Information" section).

WORKAROUND

Normally, Word removes the work files after you close the document and then quit Word.

The work files can also be removed by following these steps:
  1. Save any open documents, and quit all programs that you have running.
  2. Use the Find File program, or Sherlock, to search the hard disk for files beginning with "Word Work File."
  3. Drag the work files to the Trash.
  4. Quit the Find File program (or Sherlock), and then empty the Trash.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The AutoRecover feature can help to recover a document if Word stops responding (hangs) while you are working and you are forced to quit the program. Word opens the temporary file when Word is started again.

To turn on the AutoRecover feature, follow these steps:
  1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences.
  2. Click the Save tab.
  3. Click to select the Save AutoRecover info every check box, set the number of minutes between saves, and then click OK.
NOTE: The AutoRecover feature is enabled by default when you install Word 2001.

For more information about how to protect documents against accidental loss, click Microsoft Word 2001 Help on the Help menu, type prevent loss of work and recover lost documents in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/14/2002
Keywords:kbbug KB269936
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.