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Q167284: WD97: Problem Saving Normal.dot on Computer with Multiple Users

Article: Q167284
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbother kbusage kbdta word97
Last Modified: 14-NOV-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Word 97 for Windows 
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SYMPTOMS
========

If you perform a local installation of Word 97 and then turn on User Profiles so
that the local installation of Word is shared by several people using the same
computer, you may have problems with the way the Normal.dot file is managed. For
example, you may notice the following symptoms:

- You receive an error message about the Normal.dot file being read-only.

- You inherit settings and options that belong to other users.

- You are unable to customize certain options.


CAUSE
=====

In a local installation, the template location is not unique for each user. For
the first user, the Normal.dot file is created in the correct location (\Program
Files\Microsoft Office \Templates). When subsequent users log on, the location
of the Normal.dot is replicated, so Word defaults to the \Program
Files\Microsoft Office\Office directory and creates another Normal.dot there.

WORKAROUND
==========

Method 1: Manually Change the User Templates Location
-----------------------------------------------------

In order to customize each instance of Word, each user must have a unique copy of
the Normal.dot file. The location of the Normal.dot file is controlled by a
customization setting. To change the location of the Normal.dot so that it will
be unique for each user, follow these steps:

1. Create a unique folder for each user.

2. Have the user log on to the computer.

3. Start Word.

4. On the Tools menu, click Options.

5. Click the File Locations tab.

6. Click the User Templates setting and click Modify.

7. Navigate to the unique folder you created in step 1 and click OK.

  If you want copies of the Office Templates for each user, you can copy the
  Office Templates from the \Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates folder to
  the folder you created in step 1.

If you want the users to share the Office templates, follow these steps:

1. Have the user log on the computer.

2. Start Word.

3. On the Tools menu, click Options.

4. Click the File Locations tab.

5. Click the Workgroup Templates setting and click Modify.

6. Navigate to the Office Templates folder (the most likely location for this
  folder is \Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates), and click OK.

Now, when you click New on the File menu, you will see a combination of the User
Templates (the user's Normal.dot and other user-specific templates) and
Workgroup templates (the templates the user is sharing with other users).

Method 2: Perform a Server/Workstation Installation
---------------------------------------------------

To perform an Administrative setup on the computer and then perform a Workstation
setup for each user, use the following steps:

1. Create a unique folder for each user and a folder for the server installation
  of Word.

2. Log in as the administrator and run the "setup /a" command on the server
  folder on the computer.

3. Log on as one of the users and perform a workstation installation. Install to
  the user's unique folder you created in step 1. Repeat this step for each
  user.

This will install the program files to the server folder and create a Normal.dot
template for each user on the system.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products that are
listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The User Templates setting is typically used to indicate a location for
templates that you may want to customize. Generally, the Normal.dot file is
stored in this location so that users can save changes (such as a default font,
custom styles, and so on) to their work environments.

The Workgroup Templates setting is typically used to indicate a location for
templates that are shared with other users. Because multiple users will be using
the same templates in this situation, either no users will be able to save
changes to the templates (if they are marked as read only), or only the first
user will be able to save changes to the template (the first user gets full
control or the template and the other users get read only access).

The following components are stored in the Normal.dot global template.
Customization of any of these features will require a separate Normal.dot file
for each user:

  Boilerplate text and graphics
  Template styles
  Default settings (font, margins, page size, and so on)
  Some AutoText entries
  Some macros
  Some custom menu and toolbar settings

If you install Office using a Run From Server setup, rather than by performing a
local installation, the effects are slightly different. The first time the new
user quits Word, the user will see a message stating that the Normal.dot has
been changed, but the changes can't be saved because the file is read-only. The
User Templates path in the registry for this user is pointing to the Office
folder, which in this case is on the server, and is read-only.

NOTE: The message is slightly misleading. The Normal.dot does not yet exist in
that location. Word is trying to save a new, default Normal.dot for this user in
the User Templates location.

To work around this situation, use one of the workarounds listed in the
"Workaround" section of this article.

REFERENCES
==========

For more information about Normal.dot and templates, please see the following
articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q198039 WD97: Understanding the Template Path and Normal.dot

  Q138059 WD: How to Determine Where Word Looks for Templates

  Q163154 WD: Problems Running Multiple Versions of Word on Same Computer

  Q136815 OFF95: Template Location in Shortcut Bar or Word Affects Program

For more information about "user templates and workgroup templates," click the
Office Assistant, type "workgroup templates," click Search, and then click one
of the following topics:

  The Normal Template
  Settings saved in templates
  About the availability of templates

For more information about performing a server install, please see the following
article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q159772 OFF97: Contents of the Netwrk8.txt Readme File

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbother kbusage kbdta word97 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Issue type        : kbbug

=============================================================================

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