WD: "Cannot Retrieve Properties..." or Document Opens Read-Only (137356)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q137356

CASE 1

Symptoms

When you try to view a document's properties in Word, you receive the following error message:
Cannot retrieve properties for <document name>.

Causes:

This error message occurs for either of the following reasons:

Cause A: The document is currently open in Quick View.

Cause B: You are viewing file information in Word's Preview mode, AND the document does not contain a Preview Picture.

If you are viewing the list of files in Preview mode, both Cause A and Cause B may be true.

Resolution:

Cause A: Switch to the Quick View window by selecting it on the Windows Taskbar. On the File menu, click Exit. Switch back to Word and view the document properties.

Note: If you exit from Quick View and still receive the error message when you try to view the properties, there may be another instance of Quick View with the same document open, or you may be viewing the document in Preview mode. See the resolution for Cause B to eliminate the error message.

Cause B: Either switch to a different view (such as List Details, or Properties), or open the file and save a Preview Picture.

To save a Preview Picture:

  1. Open the document.
  2. On the File menu, click Properties.
  3. Click the Summary tab.
  4. Select the Save Preview Picture check box.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Save the document.
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Word versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c, 7.0, and 7.0a. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows.

CASE 2

Symptoms:

When you open a document, it opens in read-only mode.

Cause:

The document is currently opened in Quick View.

Resolution:

Switch to the Quick View window by selecting it on the Windows Taskbar. On the File menu, click Exit. Return to Word and view the document properties.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.

CASE 3

Symptoms:

If you click Open on the File menu, select a document, right click the mouse button, and attempt to Rename or Delete the document, you receive the following error message:
Error: Cannot rename/delete <filename>: Access is denied. Make sure the disk is not full or write- protected and that the file is not currently in use.

Cause:

The document is currently opened in Quick View.

Resolution:

Switch to the Quick View window by selecting it on the Windows Taskbar. From the File menu, click Exit. Return to Word and view the document properties.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Quick View is an option added to the File Open Shortcut menu by Windows 95. When Quick View is used to view a document, Word cannot retrieve the document properties because the file is already open. If you open the document in Word, Word makes a copy of the file and opens the copy as read-only.

To add Quick View to the File Open Shortcut menu, use the following steps:

  1. Click the Windows Start button, and point to Settings.
  2. Click Control Panel.
  3. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
  4. Click the Windows Setup tab.
  5. Select Accessories and click Details.
  6. Select Quick View and click OK.
  7. Click OK and follow the Windows 95 Setup prompts.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/17/2005
Keywords:KB137356
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.