Problem with Normal.dot upon closing MS Word

[aznan]

Hi , we are having a lot of problem with the Normal.dot file.

Before the problem comes we were using the Normal.dot template which is
located in a server and on every users template file location it was pointing
to \\uplandsdc1\clipart

After that , the \\uplandsdc1 crashes , so i copied the same Normal.dot
template to another server named \\uplandsdc2

Since we have more that 200 PCs and over 600 users i configured one PC for
the new location of Normal.dot template and then exported the configuration
to a .reg file (the Normal.dot location in registry shown below) and then
added the .reg file to the login script.

"[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Common\General]"


The .reg file imported successfully and i can see the template location is
correct on every user. Some of the PC are working fine but some of them are
having problem when closing MS Word application. It pops up with the error
msg shown below:-

The file is in use by another application or user.
(\\Uplandsdc2\app\Common\Normal.dot)


Please Help/ Advise , we are really in a big trouble.
Thanking you in Anticipation

 

[Beth Melton]

The primary problem resides in sharing Normal.dot. This is not what
Word was designed to do. Each user should have a copy of Normal.dot on
their own workstation. In Word look under Tools/Options/File Locations
and User Templates should point to a folder on the local drive. Once
this is in place, Word will automatically create a Normal.dot.

The main reasons for this are:
1) It decreases your chances of spreading viruses (Not everyone should
share the same Kleenex!)

2) If Word can't find the network for any number of reasons, then it
will create a new Normal.dot on the local drive. When there is more
than one Normal.dot then this begins to cause additional
problems,errors, etc.

3) Any changes one user makes affects all users. This is why you are
getting "file is in use" messages. Someone has made a change. This
type of situation can lead to various error messages and can lead to
the corruption of Normal.dot

4) Microsoft does not recommend you do this either. Additional
information can be found in this article from the MS KB
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q167284/

If the reason Normal.dot is setup as shared is because of global
AutoText entries, macros, styles, etc.. then these should be placed in
a separate template and folder on the server and point each users
STARTUP location to that folder. Upon starting the template will be
loaded as a global add-in and all items will be available to the user
and a little more protected than they would be if stored on a shared
Normal.dot.

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/

Hi , we are having a lot of problem with the Normal.dot file.

Before the problem comes we were using the Normal.dot template which
is
located in a server and on every users template file location it was
pointing
to \\uplandsdc1\clipart

After that , the \\uplandsdc1 crashes , so i copied the same
Normal.dot
template to another server named \\uplandsdc2

Since we have more that 200 PCs and over 600 users i configured one
PC for
the new location of Normal.dot template and then exported the
configuration
to a .reg file (the Normal.dot location in registry shown below) and
then
added the .reg file to the login script.

"[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Common\General]"


The .reg file imported successfully and i can see the template
location is
correct on every user. Some of the PC are working fine but some of
them are
having problem when closing MS Word application. It pops up with the
error
msg shown below:-

The file is in use by another application or user.
(\\Uplandsdc2\app\Common\Normal.dot)


Please Help/ Advise , we are really in a big trouble.
Thanking you in Anticipation

 

[aznan]

Hi , can you please explain to me in detail on how i can re correct the
problem. How do i create a proper shared Normal.dot ?

Your help on this will be much appreciated.

Thanks
--
The International School of Penang (Uplands)

The primary problem resides in sharing Normal.dot. This is not what
Word was designed to do. Each user should have a copy of Normal.dot on
their own workstation. In Word look under Tools/Options/File Locations
and User Templates should point to a folder on the local drive. Once
this is in place, Word will automatically create a Normal.dot.

The main reasons for this are:
1) It decreases your chances of spreading viruses (Not everyone should
share the same Kleenex!)

2) If Word can't find the network for any number of reasons, then it
will create a new Normal.dot on the local drive. When there is more
than one Normal.dot then this begins to cause additional
problems,errors, etc.

3) Any changes one user makes affects all users. This is why you are
getting "file is in use" messages. Someone has made a change. This
type of situation can lead to various error messages and can lead to
the corruption of Normal.dot

4) Microsoft does not recommend you do this either. Additional
information can be found in this article from the MS KB
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q167284/

If the reason Normal.dot is setup as shared is because of global
AutoText entries, macros, styles, etc.. then these should be placed in
a separate template and folder on the server and point each users
STARTUP location to that folder. Upon starting the template will be
loaded as a global add-in and all items will be available to the user
and a little more protected than they would be if stored on a shared
Normal.dot.

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/

Hi , we are having a lot of problem with the Normal.dot file.

Before the problem comes we were using the Normal.dot template which
is
located in a server and on every users template file location it was
pointing
to \\uplandsdc1\clipart

After that , the \\uplandsdc1 crashes , so i copied the same
Normal.dot
template to another server named \\uplandsdc2

Since we have more that 200 PCs and over 600 users i configured one
PC for
the new location of Normal.dot template and then exported the
configuration
to a .reg file (the Normal.dot location in registry shown below) and
then
added the .reg file to the login script.

"[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Common\General]"


The .reg file imported successfully and i can see the template
location is
correct on every user. Some of the PC are working fine but some of
them are
having problem when closing MS Word application. It pops up with the
error
msg shown below:-

The file is in use by another application or user.
(\\Uplandsdc2\app\Common\Normal.dot)


Please Help/ Advise , we are really in a big trouble.
Thanking you in Anticipation

 

[Beth Melton]

You don't want to share Normal.dot.

If you want to share macros, AutoText, etc then create a new Word
template and copy the customizations from Normal.dot to the new
template using the Organizer found under Tools/Templates/File
Location.

Place that template in a shared folder on your server. Then under
Tools/Options/File Locations, point the Startup folder to this
location. Reg key is:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Word\Options

String value: STARTUP-PATH
Value data: <server path>

The User Templates folder should point to a location preferably their
local drive. It can point to a personal folder on the network however,
if the network is unavailable Word will create a new Normal.dot on
their local drive and that can cause other complications.

If you want to share templates then use the "Workgroup templates" file
location. Reg key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Common\General

String value: SharedTemplates
Value data: <server path>

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/

 

[aznan]

Hi , thanks for the reply. Ok i'm not very sure about the macros, Autotext
etc and I am also a bit confused with the "startup" and "workgroup
templates". This is what i have done until now and please help me through
this:-

I have already changed the user templates location to the default office
setting as you've recommended which is (C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates)

But, it is now not using my prefered Normal.dot

Now i have a Normal.dot file which i have done some custom configurations
(margins, measurement units to centimetres etc)

How can i use this Normal.dot file for all users without going to one by one
PC or like automating it through the login script.

Please help.