Formatted Autocorrect entries (word 2002)

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I am helping a client that has created a global template called “mynormal.dot” which loads on startup. It replaces normal.dot as the attached template (which we know, of course is still hovering in the background…)
All new documents are based on this template.
Users are losing their formatted autocorect b/c by default, formatted autocorrect entries are stored in normal.dot.(while plain autocorrect entries are stored in an .acl file. and the company keeps pushing out a new normal (another story all together…)
Is there any way to save these in the attached template?
Thanks!

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Unfortunately, you do have a bit of a problem. I have attached MS KB article with regard to Word’s settings and formatted AutoText is only available through the normal.dot. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?…en-us;289294#17%5B/url%5D
Is it absolutely necessary for the co to control the normal.dot? You can easily repoint the normal.dot to another location where the network’s batch will not overwrite – Tools, Options, File Locations, User Templates (maybe repoint to the old location of templates under Program Files, Microsoft Office, Templates). I never recommend a company to take control of the Normal.dot, since users loose the ability to create styles, autotext, etc. If a company wants to give the user toolbars, autotext, macros, they should simply attach those templates in the Startup folder. If this is a corruption issue and they do not wish to support, this is understandable; however, I tell users that if the Normal goes corrupt they will loose any customization and be aware of this. Anyhow, good luck with this issue…

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I think it is a control issue…The users can save any customizations (styles. autotext, toolbars etc) in their personal.dot, which is the attached template. The company also has a company.dot, which stores office wide toolbar buttons & macros. So…if they need to make a global change, they can do so by pushing a new company.dot (instead of normal.dot)
I think I need to make the case to go back to individual normal.dots with the maintenance of a company.dot. I’ve never used the autocorrect utility in the support.dot but suppose it’s worth a shot.
Thanks for your feedback.
Ever feel like moving to tahiti?

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Further to the company attaching Personal.dot for the user’s private customizations… this does not allow them to use/create styles, seemlessly anyway… an individual needs to ensure that they copy the styles to the Personal.dot after creating and when they need them, copy them back into their current document… it’s a real pain – AND everything you do in Word IS A STYLE… it’s a real shame that this base functionality is literally taken away from the user (or difficult to accomplish). Good luck with the support.dot

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Actually, we’ve made it simple for them to copy personal styles with a macro button. (they of course need to be proactive about activating it but…)
Thanks for your help.

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Just my , but in my previous job we had exactly the setup you talk about trying – where users have their own normal.dot, but we had a ‘company.dot’ that we re-released as and when necessary.

It’s also a good idea because we found that Word objected to having the normal.dot on the network and kept chucking it away and creating it’s own blank one whenever it felt like it!

I can recommend it, it worked well!

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