i can't insert a text box or autoshapes in word 2003

[Geesey]

When I try to insert a text box or autoshape in Word 2003 (new doc or
existing) nothing appears. Also I can't resize or move any inserted picture.
The documents aren't protected in any way. I have also tried to rename/remove
normal.dot with no change.

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

I would try the steps shown here:

http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm

In particular, does it work when Word starts in Safe mode?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Do you have "Drawings" checked on the View tab of Tools | Options? Have you
set the AutoShape defaults to No Fill and No Line? Are the inserted pictures
wrapped or inline?

 

[Geesey]

I have checked/unchecked 'drawings'. I can't set any Autoshape defaults as
the option is greyed out on my draw toolbar. I have tried the pictures in any
format - in line, square, in front of, behind, etc.
I have tried to rename/ delete normal.dot by enabling system and hidden
files but can't find the file.

 

[Geesey]

Thanks Herb,
No I tried Word in safe mode with the same result.
I can't set any autoshape defaults (option mis greyed out).
I can only see the normal.dot file in safe mode.
I tried renaming it but word seems to keep all the previous settings from
somewhere else and just produces another identical normal.dot.
This is really frustrating as I really thought reinstalling word would have
fixed the problem. Inserting stuff in Excel, Powerpoint and Publisher works
fine and I can resize and move pictures, etc.

Thanks

Thanks

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

You can only set AutoShape defaults based on an AutoShape that you have
selected. Make sure you're in Print Layout view (objects in the drawing
layer are not displayed in Normal view). Inline objects behave like text and
can't be freely dragged.

For help on finding Normal.dot, see
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/BlankDocNotBlank.htm

 

[Geesey]

Thanks,
I still can't insert any autoshapes or text boxes under any view especially
print layout. I have found normal.dot but changing/deleting it doesn't do
anything either.
I am really at a loss with this one.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

What printer do you have selected?

 

[Geesey]

My default printer is a Canon MP800. I also have a Samsung ML1740 attached as
well. I have tried setting both to default with no change.

 

[Geesey]

Ok
When I start Word without template (winword /a) I can insert text boxes,
move and resize images. etc. How do I now save this as my normal.dot file so
that I keep those settings?. Or is this the way I should go?

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

If you delete your existing Normal.dot, Word will automatically recreate a
pristine Normal.dot, assuming that a bum Normal.dot is the cause of the
problem. It might also be bum registry entries. You might try the steps
shown here to try to narrow it down:

http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm

 

[Geesey]

Hi,
Have solved my problem. I have a program called Solid Documents PDF
Converter which attaches itself to Word through a .dot macro. The
installation has gone astray in that the macro didn't ever link up in Word
and didn't ever produce an error. I began a process of uninstalling every
thing I could think of that produced a print output and luckily enough this
was my second choice. I had installed this program nearly a year ago and Word
worked fine then but somewhere along the way the gremlins went to work. I
reinstalled PDF Converter and everything works fine including inserting text
boxes and moving and resizing images.
Thanks to everyone