WD97: Where Settings Are Stored in the Registry (157464)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q157464
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

Word 97 stores all of its settings in the Windows registry; Word 97 no longer stores information in an .ini file or in the Winword.opt file the way earlier versions of Word did.

This article lists which settings in the Windows Registry pertain to Word 97 for Windows. This article is divided into the following sections:
  • Main locations of Word settings
  • Settings in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word
  • Settings in HKEY\CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Common
  • Settings in HKEY\CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MS Setup (ACME)
  • Settings in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools
  • Miscellaneous settings
  • Using the RegOptions macro
WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

MAIN LOCATIONS OF WORD SETTINGS

Most settings in Word are stored here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word


Changes made to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER key are also mirrored in the following registry key:

HKEY_USERS\Default\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word


The difference between the two locations is that the first one applies only to the current user of the system, and the other is the default for all users. However, Word entries are the same for both, so any change made to one is automatically updated in the other.

For the remainder of this article, all references to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER subtree apply also to the HKEY_USERS subtree, except where noted.

Settings in the WORD key

The settings that you may need to examine during troubleshooting are located in the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word


NOTE: The Data subkey and the Options subkey are the most frequently changed areas.

Data Subkey

The Word 97 for Windows equivalent to the Word 6.x Winword.opt file is the Data subkey and is located as follows:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Data


This subkey contains binary information for MRU lists, including the MRU file list and the MRU address book list. It also contains the same information as was stored in the Winword.opt file in Word for Windows 6.x, such as Track Changes settings (Revision settings in Word 6.x) and Edit settings.

Default Save Subkey

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Default Save


This subkey sets the default format for saving documents. You can change the default format Word 97 uses by changing the Save Word Files As setting in Word. To locate this option in Word, click Options on the Tools menu, and then click the Save tab.

Help Subkey

This subkey contains the paths for Word's Help files. Word Help, WordPerfect Help, and Visual Basic Help paths are found here.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Help\Files

HTML Subkey

This subkey contains the default settings for the Web Authoring feature.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\HTML


The default settings are: 
   AutoUpDate             Sets the date to check the Web for updates.

   AutoUpdateAddress      Sets the web address to check for Web updates.

   Bullet Path            Sets the path for web graphical bullets.

   Clipart URL            Sets the web address for new web clipart.

   Dlg Bullet Path        Sets the path for basic web bullets.

   Dlg HorizontalLine     Sets the path for basic web lines.

   HorizontalLine Path    Sets the path for web graphical lines.

   LocalContent           Sets the location for documents containing
                          default content used by the web page wizard.

   LocalPageStyles        Sets the location for gifs, backgrounds, and
                          templates used by the web page wizard.

   WebArt Path            Sets the path for local clipart.

Options Subkey

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Options


This subkey stores those options that you can set from Word, either by changing menu options or by running the RegOptions macro. These are the editable options.

The settings here fall into two groups: default settings and optional settings. Default settings are established during Setup and you can change them by modifying options in Word. Optional settings are not created during Setup; to add them you must run the RegOptions macro.

The following default settings located here are: 
   AutoSpell              Turns Automatic spell checking on or off.

   AutoGrammar            Turns Automatic grammar checking on or off.

   Autosave-Path          Sets default folder for autosave documents.

   BackgroundPrint        Turns background printing on or off.

   BackgroundSave         Turns background saving on or off.

   EnableMacroVirus       Turns macro warning on or off.

   NoEditTime             Turns on and off recording of edit time in
                          statistics.

   Picture-Path           Sets the path for clip art.

   PlainTextAutoFormat    Sets Autoformat for Wordmail documents.

   ProgramDir             Sets the Word program folder.

   Startup-Path           Sets the path for the startup folder.

   StartWhatIsNew         Turns What is New screen on and off at startup.

   Tools-Path             Sets alternative locations for proofing tools.

   Wordmail-Path          Sets WordMail directory path.

   WPHelp                 Turns WordPerfect Help on or off.
Also, the following optional settings located here are: 
   Bak-Extension          Sets default extension for backup files.

   BitMapMemory           Sets memory for internal graphics cache.

   CacheSize              Sets internal document text cache for Word.

   DateFormat             Sets the default date format for Word.

   Doc-Extension          Sets the default extension for Word documents.

   Doc-Path               Sets the default path for documents saved in
                          Word.

   Dot Extension          Sets the default extension for templates in Word.

   OleDot                 Sets the default template used to create document                           objects in Word or other OLE applications.

   SlowShading            For printers with special drawing function,
                          allows shading of graphics.

   TimeFormat             Sets the default time format for Word.

   UpdateDictionaryNumber Sets the default order for custom dictionaries.

Stationery Subkey

This subkey contains the default location for the template for WordMail and the links to find the template.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Stationery


The settings here are: 
   Default Template       Sets the path to the template (by default,<BR/>
                          Email.dot).

   DlgDefTpl              Shows a link to the default template.

   Option                 Shows a link to the default template.

Text Converters Key

This key contains registration information for Word's text converters. It includes the keys for import and export converters. Each converter registers its extension, name, and path here.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Text Converters

NOTE: Three uncommon converters registered here are the Schedule Plus converter, the MSPAB converter and the Outlook converter. These converters allow you to use contact lists through the Microsoft Word mail merge feature. If these keys are removed, Outlook will no longer appear as an available data source for a mail merge. The paths are:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Text Converters\Import\Splus

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Text Converters\Import\MSPAB

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Text Converters\Import\OUTLOOK

Wizards Key

This key replaces the Wordwiz.ini file from previous versions of Word. All wizard defaults are stored here. These setting are created the first time you run a wizard.

Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Wizards

WordMail Key

This key contains the window position information for WordMail.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\WordMail

Table of Authorities Key

This key stores the Category list that appears in the Table of Authorities list when you press ALT+SHIFT+I or choose Mark Citation in the Table of Authorities dialog box.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Table of Authorities Categories

The Table of Authorities dialog box can be accessed by choosing Index and Tables on the Insert menu.

For example: 
   Category 1     "Cases"
   Category 2     "Statutes"
   Category 10   "10"

Settings in the COMMON key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\OFFICE\8.0\COMMON

This key is also used by other Microsoft programs, such as the Office programs. Likewise, these settings are shared between programs. Changes made in one program's settings also appear in the other programs. 
   Assistant      Sets information about the chosen Office Assistant.

   AutoCorrect    Sets the path to the .ACL file (which contains the
                  AutoCorrect list) and lists the current settings for
                  AutoCorrect.

   FileNew        This subkey sets the path for LocalTemplates (User
                  templates) and SharedTemplates (Workgroup templates).
                  This setting can be changed in Word when you click
                  Options on the Tools menu and then click the File
                  Locations tab.

   Internet       Stores settings for FTP sites and icons.

   Open Find      Stores default setting for open and save dialogs in
                  Microsoft Word, including current view and Filename and
                  MRU lists.

   Toolbars       Sets Tooltips on or off and sets button sizes for
                  toolbars.

   Userinfo       Stores user information, including name and initials.

Settings in the MS Setup (ACME) key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MS Setup (ACME)

This setting refers to the user's name, which you are prompted to fill in during Setup. 
   User Info      Sets the user name and company name for Setup usage

Settings in the SHARED TOOLS key

This key contains paths for all Windows applets such as Equation, WordArt, and MsGraph.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools


Paths for the shared graphics filters and text converters are also registered in this location. There are two keys here that pertain especially to Word.

This subkey registers Import and Export text converters.

HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Text Converters


This subkey registers the Import and Export graphic filters.

HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Graphics Filters


In addition, each filter and converter is registered individually. A list of clients using a filter, converter, or applet is listed under each tool.

MISCELLANEOUS SETTINGS

The .doc file name extension is registered in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT in several ways.

Class IDs are in the following locations:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

and in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE


Equation Editor options outlined in the RegOptions Macro are registered in the following registry location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Equation Editor\3.0\Options\General


NOTE: The \Options\General folder does not show up unless options are set.

USING THE REGOPTIONS MACRO

The RegOptions macro can be used to examine the Windows registry or to make changes to Word settings stored there. To run the macro, follow these steps:
  1. On the File menu, click Templates and Add-ins.
  2. Click Add.
  3. Select the \Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Macros folder.
  4. Select the Support8.Dot file and click OK. This adds the Support8 template to the Global Templates and Add-ins box. Click OK.
  5. On the Tools menu, point to Macro and then click Macros.
  6. In the Macros In drop-down list, select Support8.dot (Template).
  7. In the Macros list box, select RegOptions and click Run.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/11/2002
Keywords:kbconversion kbinfo KB157464
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.