WD6X: Word Saves Normal Document Template in Word Program Folder (119027)

SYMPTOMS

Word for the Macintosh may save your Normal Document Template on the desktop instead of in your Templates folder. This problem occurs if you move the Word application program to the desktop or to a different folder from the folder where Word Setup installed it and if you specify no User Templates setting (to locate this setting, choose Options from the Tools menu, choose the File Locations tab). When you do this, Word cannot find your existing Normal Document Template and creates a new one in the folder where you moved your Word application program.

CAUSE

By design, Word Setup designates a specific location (such as the "HD:Word 6 for the Macintosh:Templates" folder) as the User Templates setting, so Word usually stores your Normal Document Template in that folder, as expected. If you delete the User Templates setting, however, Word stores a new Normal Document Template in the folder that contains your Word program file.

AutoText entries (formerly Glossaries), AutoCorrect entries, macros, toolbars, keyboard assignments, and styles are stored in the normal template. These settings can appear to be lost if Word does not locate your original template.

WORKAROUND

Method 1

Follow these steps to add a User Templates setting that points to a specific folder.

On the Tools menu, click Options.
Select the File Locations tab.
Select the User Templates line and then click Modify.
Select the folder where you want to store your Normal Document Template, then click Use Selected Folder.
Click Close to return to Word.

Method 2

Instead of moving your Word program file to the desktop or to another folder, create an alias and move that instead. To create an alias, select the original Word program file in Finder, then choose Make Alias from the File menu.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Word for the Macintosh version 6.x. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.