Normal.dot Issue

[JD]

Having an issue with Word 2003. When I close a document I get an error
message about the normal.dot has been changed, do I want to save changes. I
can click out of everything but it's a PITA. (Pain in the butt.)
I've tried deleting the normal.dot template and letting Word recreate the
normal.dot template but this didn't seem to help. Has anyone run into this
problem and does anyone know of a permanent fix other than the possibility of
a reimage?

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

Are you actually making changes that affect Normal.dot? Or, does this
message seem to be spurious? It can also be the sign of a virus.

Also, some add-ins (such as earlier versions of Adobe Acrobat) effectively
change Normal.dot each time Word is opened, simply by adding itself to the
toolbar or by reinstalling its own toolbar.

In any case, the dumb way out of this is to turn off the prompt (Tools -
Options - Save tab, Prompt to Save the Normal template). As others have
pointed out, this is like cutting the wires to your car alarm to keep it
from making that dreadful noise, or removing the battery from your smoke
detector.

Step 1 is to determine *why* and *now* normal.dot is being changed. Step 2
is to determine whether it's a problem, and if it is, what to do about it.

 

[JD]

It seems to be occuring with a document that has form fields that have been
set up to merge data into the document. I can pull up the same document
without the form fields and when I close out of word, I don't get the
message. The only thing that has changed, is the addition of form fields and
the properties of the form fields that pull data into those fields. When I
close the document that has the form fileds in it, the normal.dot error
appears. Can't figure out the why and how the addition of form fields would
change the normal.dot template that word uses. When I create form fields in
a word document, what changes are being written to the normal.dot template?

I have completed a virus scan and found nothing causing the problem.

Thanks for the quick response Herb, I really appreciate it.

JD.

 

[Bob I]

You recently install Adobe Acrobat?

 

[JD]

No recent install of Acrobat. I did try something just for grins and giggles.
Removed Acrobat from the machine but still coming up with errors.

Thanks for the suggestion. =)

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

So, it's just this one document?

Note that you're referring to this as a "normal.dot error". It's not really
an error. It's telling you that normal.dot has been changed in some way.

Which form fields are you using? Some use VBA resources, effectively
changing normal.dot, and some don't.

It's possible that you could tame the behavior just for that one document,
since that's the only place this is occurring. Is the document protected for
forms, or does it simply contain forms? (This make a difference in the
accessibility of macros.) In theory, for example, one could replace the
built-in FileClose command with a macro, stored only in that file, that
silently saves normal.dot when the file is closed. I say "in theory" because
Word sometimes does strange things that interfere with certain macros, and
it's hard to know a priori if something will work.

 

[JD]

Also made sure the check box was unchecked under:
Tools
Options
Save Tab
"prompt to save Normal Template"

Still getting message that the normal.dot template has changed, save
changes? and if I do try to save changes the normal.dot template is Read
Only. Not understanding what is causing the change in the normal.dot
template. All I'm doing is pulling data into a form field and trying to save
the document. If the document doesn't have form fields, it can save OK w/o
error message. Doesn't make sense to me. UGH!

 

[garfield-n-odie]

If you're using Symantec/Norton AntiVirus, try disabling the
Office Plugin that comes with it. See
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=329820 "How to use Office
programs with the Norton AntiVirus Office plug-in" for more
information.

 

[Beth Melton]

It's not really a good idea to turn off the Prompt to save Normal.dot
option. If you encounter this message then it should be investigated -
not ignored.

If you are only encountering the prompt when you pull data into a form
field then I'd say that's where the problem lies. How are you doing
this exactly? VBA? If using VBA then what code are you using?

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/

 

[JD]

All I'm doing is utilizing the form field command in Word. I'll describe it
the best way I can. I have a document that has fields that need to have test
in them. Let's say an address for example. When I create the form at first
I leave an area blank for the address and underline it, like so.

Address _______________________________________

Now, when I add a form field to the blank area that is underlined, via
microsoft word and the form fields toolbar, I can add the form field where it
needs to be. (Say I need this document to have input via a computer vs.
printing it out, filling it in, and faxing it.) I can add the form field with
no problem. Word takes it I set up the properties to be text, with a limit
of 100 characters, etc.... and then try to save the changes to the document
with the form fields inserted. When I try to save the document I get the
error message that the global document has changed, and would I like to save
the changes. This happens everytime I open the document and close it. NOT
specific to my machine because I have tried it on numerous machines and they
too get the same error message. All I've done is add form fields to a
document. Driving me crazy with this error message. "Calgon....take me
away!" =)

 

[Beth Melton]

Interesting one document would exhibit this behavior. Would you mind
emailing me a copy of the document?

Remove "NoSpam4Me" to obtain a valid email address:
(e-mail address removed)

Thanks!

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/