Word May Stop Responding When You Edit a Rich Text Format File (827030)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2002
  • Microsoft Word 2000

SYMPTOMS

When you use Microsoft Word to open a rich text format (RTF) file, Word may stop responding when you try to edit the file.

CAUSE

This issue may occur if the following conditions are true:
  • The file that you are trying to edit is an RTF file that was created by using Corel WordPerfect.
  • The file contains custom defined, case-sensitive styles that contain a style name of "Normal".
Note The use of a style name of "normal", without the capitalization, causes no problem. Because of a problem with the way that Word Perfect exports this information to an RTF file, Word may crash when you try to edit a document that contains custom defined, case-sensitive styles that contain a style name of "Normal".

Note This issue does not occur if the style name is "normal" instead of "Normal".

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods as appropriate to your situation.

Method 1: Edit the RTF File in Notepad Before You Open the File in Word

  1. Start Notepad and then open the file that caused the problem.
  2. Locate the {\*\cs1 \additive Normal;} RTF property.
  3. Edit the RTF property so that the word "Normal" is all lower case.

    When you finish, the RTF property will look similar to the following: {\*\cs1 \additive normal;}.
  4. Click File, and then click Save.
  5. Click File, and then click Exit.

Method 2: Edit the RTF File in WordPerfect

  1. Open the file in WordPerfect and either change the character style name from "Normal" to "normal", or change the style sheet style from "Normal" to "normal".
  2. Use the style name "normal" (instead of "Normal") when you create the new RTF files by using WordPerfect.

MORE INFORMATION

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:9/9/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB827030
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.