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Q186237: WD97: How to Move AutoCorrect Entries Between Computers

Article: Q186237
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbdta word97
Last Modified: 06-AUG-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Word 97 for Windows 
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For a Microsoft Word 2000 version of this article, see Q207748.

For a Microsoft Word 7.0 version of this article, see Q153149.

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you 
modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore 
the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the 
registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY
=======

This article describes how to copy Word 97 AutoCorrect entries from one computer
to another.

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

Use one of the following methods to share AutoCorrect entries between
computers.

Method 1: Use the Autocorrect Utility (Preferred Method)
--------------------------------------------------------

NOTE: This procedure replaces an AutoCorrect entry on the destination computer
that has the same name as an AutoCorrect entry on the source computer. All other
AutoCorrect entries are added to the AutoCorrect List on the destination
computer.

NOTE: The AutoCorrect Utility is part of the Macros8 template located in the
Macros folder. If you do not have the Macros folder installed, you need to rerun
Setup and install the Macro templates.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  

  Q162490 WD97: How to Access Sample Macros for Word 97

Back Up Your AutoCorrect Entries on the Source Computer
-------------------------------------------------------

To back up your AutoCorrect entries from the source computer, follow these
steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Templates and Add-Ins.

2. Under "Global templates and add-ins," click Add.

3. In the Add Template dialog box, change the Look in box to the Microsoft
  Office folder.

4. Double-click the Office folder.

5. Double-click the Macros folder.

6. Select the Macros8 template and then click OK.

  NOTE: The Macros8 template will be added to the Global templates and add-ins
  box.

7. On the Macros toolbar, click Sample Macros and then click AutoCorrect
  Utility.

  If the Macros toolbar does not appear, do one of the following:
   - On the View menu, point to Toolbars and then click Macros.

     -or-

   - On the Tools menu, point to Macro and then click Macros. In the Macros
     dialog box, select AutoCorrectUtil (Start_AutoCorrect) and then click Run.

8. In the AutoCorrect Utility dialog box, click Backup.

  NOTE: The AutoCorrect Utility dialog box prompts you with the following:

  This program will allow you to backup and restore your AutoCorrect entries.
  Choose Backup to create a Word document from your AutoCorrect list. Choose
  Restore to restore an AutoCorrect list from a Backup document.

  When you click Backup, Word adds and formats your AutoCorrect entries to a new
  Word document and then prompts you to save the document. Word suggests saving
  your AutoCorrect document as "AutoCorrect Backup Document."

9. Click Cancel to close the AutoCorrect Utility dialog box.

Restore Your AutoCorrect Entries to the Destination Computer
------------------------------------------------------------

To restore your AutoCorrect entries to the destination computer, follow these
steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Templates and Add-Ins.

2. Under "Global templates and add-ins," click Add.

3. In the Add Template dialog box, change the Look in box to the Microsoft
  Office folder.

4. Double-click the Office folder.

5. Double-click the Macros folder.

6. Select the Macros8 template and then click OK.

  NOTE: The Macros8 template will be added to the Global templates and add-ins
  box.

7. On the Macros toolbar, click Sample Macros and then click AutoCorrect
  Utility.

  If the Macros toolbar does not appear, do one of the following:
   - On the View menu, point to Toolbars and then click Macros.

     -or-

   - On the Tools menu, point to Macro and then click Macros. In the Macros
     dialog box, select AutoCorrectUtil (Start_AutoCorrect) and then click Run.

8. In the AutoCorrect Utility dialog box, click Restore.

  NOTE: The AutoCorrect Utility dialog box prompts you with the following:

  This program will allow you to backup and restore your AutoCorrect entries.
  Choose Backup to create a Word document from your AutoCorrect list. Choose
  Restore to restore an AutoCorrect list from a Backup document.

  When you click Restore, Word prompt you with the following:

  This will replace your current AutoCorrect entries with entries from your
  backup document that contain the same name. Do you wish to continue?

  Click Yes. In the Open dialog box, point to your AutoCorrect Backup document
  and then click Open.

  After Word has completed adding your AutoCorrect entries, click OK when Word
  prompts you with Restore Complete.

  NOTE: If your AutoCorrect Backup contains entries with several paragraphs, you
  may receive an error message similar to the following:

  There was an error. The document may be in the incorrect format. 5488 Unable
  to add because AutoCorrect entry is too long. <text of the autocorrect
  entry appears here>

  For additional information, click the article number below to view the article
  in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q275322 WD: Errors Restoring AutoCorrect Entries

9. Click Cancel to close the AutoCorrect Utility dialog box.

The AutoCorrect entries from the other computer will now be available.

Method 2: Manually Copy the Autocorrect List
--------------------------------------------

NOTE: This procedure replaces the existing AutoCorrect List on the destination
computer with the AutoCorrect List from the source computer. In other words, the
existing AutoCorrect List on the Destination computer will be lost.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems
that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot
guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor
incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
AutoCorrect entries are stored in three locations: the registry, the Normal.dot
template file, and an AutoCorrect list (<username>.acl) file.

Copying the AutoCorrect List on the Source Computer
---------------------------------------------------

On the computer that has the AutoCorrect list that you want to copy, use the
following steps:

1. To export the registry key, do the following:
  a. Quit all programs.

  b. Click the Windows Start button, and then click Run.

  c. In the Open box, type "regedit" (without the quotation marks), and then
     click OK.

  d. Select the following registry key:

  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Common\AutoCorrect

     NOTE: The status bar displays the following:

  My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0
  \Common\AutoCorrect

  e. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File, type a file name, and
     then click Save.

  f. Close the registry.

2. Copy the following files to a floppy disk:
   - The exported registry file that you created in step 1-e.

   - Normal.dot (the default location for this file is C:\Program
     Files\Microsoft Office\Templates folder).

   - <username>.acl (located in the Windows directory).

To replace the AutoCorrect list on the destination computer:

1. Rename the original Normal.dot file (the default location for this file is
  C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates folder), and then copy the
  Normal.dot template from the floppy disk to the C:\Program Files\Microsoft
  Office\Templates folder.

2. Rename the <username>.acl file (located in the Windows folder), and
  then copy the <username>.acl from the floppy disk to the Windows
  folder. Then rename the <username>.acl file you just copied to the
  Windows folder to the correct <username>.acl.

  NOTE: The <username> should be the same as the login name for the
  computer.

  NOTE: When you replace the <username>.acl file on your system with the
  <username>.acl file that contains the AutoCorrect entries you want to
  share, all of the AutoCorrect entries you had on this system will be lost and
  will be replaced with the new AutoCorrect entries you are sharing.

3. On the Registry menu, click Import Registry File, select the exported
  registry file on the floppy disk, and then click Open.

  You should receive a message similar to the following:

  Information in A:\<filename>.reg has been successfully entered into the
  registry.

  Click OK to close the message.

4. Go to the following registry key:

  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Common\AutoCorrect

5. In the AutoCorrect key, select Path (on the right side of the Registry
  Editor).

6. On the Edit menu, click Modify.

7. In the Edit String dialog box, change the Value data box to the
  <username>.acl that you typed in step 2, and then click OK.

  NOTE: Make sure you specify the path to the <username>.acl file in the
  Value data box. For example: "C:\Windows\<username>.acl" (without the
  quotation marks).

8. On the Registry menu, click Exit to quit the Registry Editor.

When you start Word, the AutoCorrect List from the other computer will now be
available.

For more information about where Word settings are stored in the Windows
registry, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  

  Q157464 WD97: Where Settings Are Stored in the Registry

Additional query words: auto correct

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbdta word97 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : :
Issue type        : kbhowto

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