How to transfer AutoCorrect entries from Word 2002 for Windows

[macman365]

Version: 2004 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) Hi,

I have a friend who has built up a *massive* AutoCorrect file from many years of using Word 2002 on a Windows PC. Most are plain text, but a small number are formatted. He now (thankfully!) has a MacBook with Office 2004 and wants to know how he can move all of his AutoCorrect entries across to work under Word for Mac. I know where the AutoCorrect file is stored on his Mac (in the ~/Library/Preferences/Microsoft folder), but it appears to be a completely different format to the corresponding file from his PC.

What's the easiest way to get his AutoCorrect entries transferred? I'm able to write some AppleScript to do it, but my initial investigations (trying to use Word's "autocorrect" class in AppleScript) have proved fruitless so far (I suspect this is read only anyway, so I suspect I couldn't add entries via AppleScript anyway).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike.

 

[macman365]

Looking at this further, it *should* be possible to read in a Word for PC AutoCorrect file (or a backup produced according to http://word.mvps.org/faqs/customization/ExportAutocorrect.htm) and use AppleScript to add each entry. The documentation here gives me some hope:
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/mac/developers/default.mspx?CTT=PageView&clr=99-25-0&target=71e0c8fb-01c7-441a-9e39-0707d11a812a1033&srcid=711d6897-ac24-4f86-a161-7b98171c1de21033&ep=7

Anyone out there with more AppleScript experience than I who's willing to have a go at such a script? ;-)

Mike.

 

[John McGhie]

The AppleScript you want is quite complex: I suspect that anyone who could
write it for you would want money to do that

Start by copying his Normal.dotm and using it to replace the one on his Mac.

There are two kinds of "AutoCorrect" entries: formatted, and un-formatted.
The unformatted ones are stored in the ACL as Unicode text. The formatted
ones are stored in the Normal template as AutoText.

If he copies his Normal.dotm over, the formatted entries will come with it.

Cheers

Looking at this further, it *should* be possible to read in a Word for PC
AutoCorrect file (or a backup produced according to
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/customization/ExportAutocorrect.htm) and use
AppleScript to add each entry. The documentation here gives me some hope:
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/mac/developers/default.mspx?CTT=PageView&clr=99-25
-0&target=71e0c8fb-01c7-441a-9e39-0707d11a812a1033&srcid=711d6897-ac24-4f86-a1
61-7b98171c1de21033&ep=7

Anyone out there with more AppleScript experience than I who's willing to have
a go at such a script? ;-)

Mike.

--

The email below is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
matters unless I ask you to; or unless you intend to pay!

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP (Word, Mac Word), Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. | Ph: +61 (0)4 1209 1410
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[Jim Gordon Mac MVP]

The AppleScript you want is quite complex: I suspect that anyone who could
write it for you would want money to do that

Start by copying his Normal.dotm and using it to replace the one on his Mac.

There are two kinds of "AutoCorrect" entries: formatted, and un-formatted.
The unformatted ones are stored in the ACL as Unicode text. The formatted
ones are stored in the Normal template as AutoText.

If he copies his Normal.dotm over, the formatted entries will come with it.

Cheers




--

The email below is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
matters unless I ask you to; or unless you intend to pay!

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP (Word, Mac Word), Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. | Ph: +61 (0)4 1209 1410
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

To add to what John said, if you don't want everything that's in your
friend's Normal file give it a different name. Then, use the Organizer
tool (Format > Style then click the Organizer button). The Organizer
tool will let you copy just the AutoCorrect settings from your friend's
Normal template to your own Normal template.

-Jim