Word Header Problem 1

[Pops109]

When I try to insert Auto text such as filename or path, I get "1OOOOOOO1" where the "O's" are actually boxes. Does anyone know how to correct this?
Thanks.
John0109

 

[fumei]

Version?

Please describe the exact steps you have done. Insert > Autotext > filename?

Have you tried to input the filename field directly, that is, NOT using Autotext? Insert > Field > filename. If so, do you still get those 000000?

Gerry

 

[Madawc]

Have you checked the font? If somehow the header was set to some 'Windings' font, you might get such a display

Madawc Williams (East Anglia, UK)

 

[Pops109]

Madawc - Yes I checked the font and it is arial.
Fumei - I can type the filename (or anything else) in the header without any problem. My exact steps are as folows:
View
Header and footer
Insert autotext
filename and path

I've tried several different fonts and get the same results.

Thanks for your help.
john0109

 

[fumei]

When you say "type the filename (or anything else)", have you done:

View
Header and footer
Insert Field
FILENAME

??? Does that show with those boxes?

Gerry

 

[Pops109]

When I said I can type anything in the header area, I meant whatever I type shows up correctly. I am getting the "boxes" only when I try to use the "Insert Autotext" tab.

I do not have an "Insert FIELD" option in the header and footer toolbar.

Again Thanks for the help.
john0109

 

[fumei]

I did not say it was in the headerfooter toolbar. I am trying to find out if you get the same result directly entering the field, as opposed to using Autotext.

View
Header and footer
Insert
Field
FILENAME

sorry, means once you are in headerfooter view, select Insert (on the menu) > Fields, then scroll down to FileName. Once you highlight Filename, just select OK. For this purpose you don't need to bother with other field codes. i want to know if you still get the boxes, or does the text come out correct.

Gerry

 

[Pops109]

OH!
Yes when I
View
Header and footer
Insert
Field
FILENAME

YThe file name is correct. Unfortunately, there is no option to add the Path this way.

Thanks again.
john0109

 

[Pops109]

Thanks to all.
I solved the problem. Apparently, something must of corrupted normal.dot. I deleted normal.dot. When Word opens, if normal.dot does not exist it creates a new one.
Apparentely, the Autotext info must be stored in normal.dot.

 

[fumei]

Actually this is a PERFECT opportunity to give my best rant.

The reason I asked you to try and put in the FileName field directly is to find out if the AutoText entry is messed up. If the text using the field directly is right, then the AutoText is bad.

Which most likely means normal.dot is bad.

Which means.....here is my rant....do not store your AutoText entries in normal.dot.

Normal.dot gets corrupted very easily. Even Microsoft uses that exact phrase. Deleting normal.dot is a standard troubleshooting step. It corrupts easily because it gets a LOT of read and writes. Every time you change any settings, any time you change anything at all, normal.dot gets written to.

Deleting it helps fix a lot of problems with Word, but it also destroys normal.dot. And if you have stored your AutoText there, your macros there....well you can lose them very easily. If it is important - store your macros, and Autotext into your own global template. Keep it separate, and make backups.

Gerry

 

[Pops109]

I agree. However, normal.dot must have the autotext stored there by default. I've never tried to save anything in normal.dot. Since I've been using the autotext feature, the filename and path info was always there.
How would I store the info somewhere else and how would I tell autotext where to find it?
john0109

 

[fumei]

Make a global template, and have it load on startup. That is, make a .dot file andput it in the Program Files / Office..../Startup folder. NOT the Documents and Settings/username.....Startup.

This loads the global template (similar to normal.dot) on Word loading.

If you OPEN the file itself (this is different from loading as a global), you can enter all the AutoText you want into it. All AutoText entries in a loaded global template are available to all documents.

In other words, you can put your AutoText into a separate template from normal.dot, have them global available (like normal.dot) but safely away from the issues of normal.dot corruption.

When making a new AutoText in the global, when you select some text for the AutoText, go:

Insert > AutoText > AutoText. Do NOT use:
Insert > AutoText > New.

New will put it in normal.dot. Click Autotext will open the AutoText dialog. Go down to the Look in: dropdown, and select the name of the global template. This will put the new AutoText in just the global. If it is really loaded as a global, it will be available....well, globally.

You can easily copy your existing AutoText from normal.dot (the default location) to your global template using the Organizer.

Tools > Templates and Add-Ins.
Click Organizer, and then click the AutoText tab.

Use one side to close the current file if necessary, then open your global template. Copy what ever AutoText entries you want.

Gerry

 

[Pops109]

Thank you very much.
I will try it!
John0109