Dialog Windows in Word (Word/Office 2000)

Topic

New Reply

I got a strange problem in Word 2000. Dialog boxes have begun to appear behind the main document window. When I select say “Print”, the task bar box that says Word starts flashing and I’m forced to minimize the main window, deal with the dialog box then remaximize the main window. This behavior has just started happening. Word has been running for over a year without a problem. I’ve had this problem before on this and other machines. In the past, the only way I got rid of this behavior was to reinstall Windows (98SE) from scratch (a long and painfull process). Reinstalling Word didn’t fix it.

I appologize if this question has been answered before. I could figure out how to search the archive.

thanks
mike

Reply | Quote

Replies

Hi Mike:
I’m not in front of Win 98 right now, but I seem to recall there’s an option regarding switching focus. One of the options is to “flash 3 times” or something like that. Problem is, I can’t recall where that option is located.
In the meantime, you can just Alt+tab to switch back & forth instead of minimizing & maximizing.

Reply | Quote

Do you use TweakUI? If you search the entire lounge for steal focus you can read more about a similar-sounding feature.

Reply | Quote

Yes I do useTweakUI. Is that causing my problem?

Reply | Quote

Hi Mike:
That’s where I saw the option. Search on TweakUI & there are different options for applications to steal focus. However, I have my Win98SE set up so that applications that start DON”T steal the focus & I don’t get the behavior you mentioned. Does it only happen with Word?

You could make a change with TweakUI & reboot, then change it back & reboot. See if that makes a difference. It does seem like it may be a Windows issue.

Reply | Quote

TweakUI didn’t seem to make a difference. While looking at this it’s gotten even stranger. If I
1) open a new document and type something then open the print dialog box it works fine.
2) I save the document and close Word.
3) Open the file I just saved by double clicking on it.
4) Try to open the print dialog box – the button in the task bar flashes as well as the title bar(?) of the window.
5) I have to click on the button in the task bar (the minimize button will not work nor will any other button or even the Ctrl-TAB key)
6) this closes the word window
7) I click on the task bar button again and the dialog box appears
8) I cancel that, click on the task bar button one more time and the Word window opens again.
9) If I try to print again,it works just fine.

This is driving me nuts.

mike

I just found one more piece of the puzzle. This only happen when I open a file by double clicking on it. If I open Word then do a “File/Open” everything seems to be fine.
mike

Reply | Quote

Same as this thread from a few months back. Hmmm… I couldn’t find anything at MS either.

Reply | Quote

Find and delete your normal.dot file. Word will create a new one when you open MS Word. This worked on one of my XP laptops using XP Office Small Business Edition. Deleting the normal.dot file solves a number of problems, especially when you have integrated products like visio, Goldmine, ACT or other contact managers that use words macro functions to automate mail merges and stuff. dr

Reply | Quote

Find and delete your normal.dot file. Word will create a new one when you open MS Word. This worked on one of my XP laptops using XP Office Small Business Edition. Deleting the normal.dot file solves a number of problems, especially when you have integrated products like visio, Goldmine, ACT or other contact managers that use words macro functions to automate mail merges and stuff. dr

Reply | Quote