WD97: How to Move AutoCorrect Entries Between Computers (186237)

MORE INFORMATION

Use one of the following methods to share AutoCorrect entries between computers.

Method 1: Use the Autocorrect Utility (Preferred Method)

NOTE: This procedure replaces an AutoCorrect entry on the destination computer that has the same name as an AutoCorrect entry on the source computer. All other AutoCorrect entries are added to the AutoCorrect List on the destination computer.

NOTE: The AutoCorrect Utility is part of the Macros8 template located in the Macros folder. If you do not have the Macros folder installed, you need to rerun Setup and install the Macro templates.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Back Up Your AutoCorrect Entries on the Source Computer

To back up your AutoCorrect entries from the source computer, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Templates and Add-Ins.
2. Under "Global templates and add-ins," click Add.
3. In the Add Template dialog box, change the Look in box to the Microsoft Office folder.
4. Double-click the Office folder.
5. Double-click the Macros folder.
6. Select the Macros8 template and then click OK.
   
   NOTE: The Macros8 template will be added to the Global templates and add-ins box.
7. On the Macros toolbar, click Sample Macros and then click AutoCorrect Utility.
   
   If the Macros toolbar does not appear, do one of the following:
   • On the View menu, point to Toolbars and then click Macros.
     
     -or-
   • On the Tools menu, point to Macro and then click Macros. In the Macros dialog box, select AutoCorrectUtil (Start_AutoCorrect) and then click Run.
8. In the AutoCorrect Utility dialog box, click Backup.
   
   NOTE: The AutoCorrect Utility dialog box prompts you with the following:

   This program will allow you to backup and restore your AutoCorrect entries. Choose Backup to create a Word document from your AutoCorrect list. Choose Restore to restore an AutoCorrect list from a Backup document.

   When you click Backup, Word adds and formats your AutoCorrect entries to a new Word document and then prompts you to save the document. Word suggests saving your AutoCorrect document as "AutoCorrect Backup Document."
9. Click Cancel to close the AutoCorrect Utility dialog box.

Restore Your AutoCorrect Entries to the Destination Computer

To restore your AutoCorrect entries to the destination computer, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Templates and Add-Ins.
2. Under "Global templates and add-ins," click Add.
3. In the Add Template dialog box, change the Look in box to the Microsoft Office folder.
4. Double-click the Office folder.
5. Double-click the Macros folder.
6. Select the Macros8 template and then click OK.
   
   NOTE: The Macros8 template will be added to the Global templates and add-ins box.
7. On the Macros toolbar, click Sample Macros and then click AutoCorrect Utility.
   
   If the Macros toolbar does not appear, do one of the following:
   • On the View menu, point to Toolbars and then click Macros.
     
     -or-
   • On the Tools menu, point to Macro and then click Macros. In the Macros dialog box, select AutoCorrectUtil (Start_AutoCorrect) and then click Run.
8. In the AutoCorrect Utility dialog box, click Restore.
   
   NOTE: The AutoCorrect Utility dialog box prompts you with the following:

   This program will allow you to backup and restore your AutoCorrect entries. Choose Backup to create a Word document from your AutoCorrect list. Choose Restore to restore an AutoCorrect list from a Backup document.

   When you click Restore, Word prompt you with the following:

   This will replace your current AutoCorrect entries with entries from your backup document that contain the same name. Do you wish to continue?

   Click Yes. In the Open dialog box, point to your AutoCorrect Backup document and then click Open.
   
   After Word has completed adding your AutoCorrect entries, click OK when Word prompts you with Restore Complete.
   
   NOTE: If your AutoCorrect Backup contains entries with several paragraphs, you may receive an error message similar to the following:
   There was an error. The document may be in the incorrect format. 5488 Unable to add because AutoCorrect entry is too long. text of the autocorrect entry appears here
   For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   275322 WD: Errors Restoring AutoCorrect Entries

9. Click Cancel to close the AutoCorrect Utility dialog box.

The AutoCorrect entries from the other computer will now be available.

Method 2: Manually Copy the Autocorrect List

NOTE: This procedure replaces the existing AutoCorrect List on the destination computer with the AutoCorrect List from the source computer. In other words, the existing AutoCorrect List on the Destination computer will be lost.

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.
AutoCorrect entries are stored in three locations: the registry, the Normal.dot template file, and an AutoCorrect list (<username>.acl) file.

Copying the AutoCorrect List on the Source Computer

On the computer that has the AutoCorrect list that you want to copy, use the following steps:

1. To export the registry key, do the following:
   1. Quit all programs.
   2. Click the Windows Start button, and then click Run.
   3. In the Open box, type "regedit" (without the quotation marks), and then click OK.
   4. Select the following registry key:

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Common\AutoCorrect

      NOTE: The status bar displays the following:

      My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0 \Common\AutoCorrect

   5. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File, type a file name, and then click Save.
   6. Close the registry.
2. Copy the following files to a floppy disk:
   • The exported registry file that you created in step 1-e.
   • Normal.dot (the default location for this file is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates folder).
   • <username>.acl (located in the Windows directory).

To replace the AutoCorrect list on the destination computer:

1. Rename the original Normal.dot file (the default location for this file is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates folder), and then copy the Normal.dot template from the floppy disk to the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates folder.
2. Rename the <username>.acl file (located in the Windows folder), and then copy the <username>.acl from the floppy disk to the Windows folder. Then rename the <username>.acl file you just copied to the Windows folder to the correct <username>.acl.
   
   NOTE: The <username> should be the same as the login name for the computer.
   
   NOTE: When you replace the <username>.acl file on your system with the <username>.acl file that contains the AutoCorrect entries you want to share, all of the AutoCorrect entries you had on this system will be lost and will be replaced with the new AutoCorrect entries you are sharing.
3. On the Registry menu, click Import Registry File, select the exported registry file on the floppy disk, and then click Open.
   
   You should receive a message similar to the following:

   Information in A:\<filename>.reg has been successfully entered into the registry.

   Click OK to close the message.
4. Go to the following registry key:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Common\AutoCorrect

5. In the AutoCorrect key, select Path (on the right side of the Registry Editor).
6. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
7. In the Edit String dialog box, change the Value data box to the <username>.acl that you typed in step 2, and then click OK.
   
   NOTE: Make sure you specify the path to the <username>.acl file in the Value data box. For example: "C:\Windows\<username>.acl" (without the quotation marks).
8. On the Registry menu, click Exit to quit the Registry Editor.

When you start Word, the AutoCorrect List from the other computer will now be available.

For more information about where Word settings are stored in the Windows registry, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: