OL2000: AutoSignature Problems Using WordMail (206751)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q206751

SYMPTOMS

When attempting to create an AutoSignature using Word as your e-mail editor in Outlook, you may experience the following problems:
  • While attempting to create the AutoSignature you are not presented the option to make it the default, so it is not created. -or-

  • You can create and use the AutoSignature in the current Outlook session but it is not retained after you restart Outlook.

CAUSE

The template file in which Word stores the AutoSignature data is damaged; the file name for the template is Normal.dot.

RESOLUTION

There are two method to resolve this issue:

Method 1

In Word, remove the Word AutoText entry created when you configured your AutoSignature.

Method 2

Rebuild the Word Template.

NOTE:Removing the AutoSignature AutoText entry is the preferred solution. However, if this procedure does not solve the problem it will be necessary to rebuild the template and then recreate the AutoSignature. Since Word stores many other special attributes and functions such as styles, macros, toolbars, and AutoText entries in this template, rebuilding it may require recreating these items.

MORE INFORMATION

To Remove the AutoSignature AutoText Entry

To remove the AutoText entry, follow these steps:
  1. Quit Outlook and start Word if it is not running.
  2. On the Word Insert menu, point to AutoText and then click AutoText.
  3. Scroll through the list of AutoText entries and click to select your AutoSignature. NOTE: If you named your AutoSignature, "My Signature", the AutoText entry will be listed by that name.

  4. Click Delete and OK.
  5. Quit Word and if prompted, click to save changes to the Normal.dot file.

To Recreate the AutoSignature

To recreate the AutoSignature, follow these steps:
  1. Start Outlook.
  2. Open a new mail message.
  3. In the new message, on the Tools menu, click Options. On the General tab, click E-mail Options.
  4. In "Type the title of yor e-mail Signature or choose from the list", type a name for your AutoSignature.
  5. In Create Your E-mail Signature, apply text attributes such as color or size to your AutoSignature. You may add a graphic to the AutoSignature as well.
  6. In Choose your default e-mail signature, select any AutoSignature options appropriate to the way you work. You may select one AutoSignature for new messages and another for replies and forwards.
  7. Click OK, and OK, and then close the message without saving.

To Rebuild the Normal.dot file

To rebuild the Normal.dot file, follow these steps:
  1. Quit both Outlook and Word.
  2. Using the Windows Find File function, search for the file, Normal.dot. Once the file is located, right-click the file name and click Rename. Change the file name to something like Normal.old. Close the Find File window.
  3. Start Outlook.
  4. Recreate the AutoSignature using the steps in the "To Recreate the AutoSignature" section.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/20/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB206751
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