Word should auto-save

  • Thread starter JenyForAutoSave
  • Start date
J

JenyForAutoSave

College campuses often have unreliable networks.
Today I lost a lot of work I had done on a research project, because the
network failed me.
I had a Word ('03) document in progress, which had been saved previously,
but there was some kind of network error, which caused this rediculous
computer to freeze and lose all un-saved information. I had an IT guy come
and search the whole damn computer for any remnants of my work, but to no
avail.
I understand (and live by) the concept of 'saving as you go,' but I think
that Word (and other MS Office applications for that matter) should literally
auto-save as you type.
I can't do anything about this school's unpredicatble system, so in the
name of exhausted college students everywhere, HELP.

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B

Bob I

1. The problem with "having every little whim" addressed, results in
exactly the issue you have because one little item in the chain stumbles.
1. You DO have a LOCAL drive, use it.
 
B

Bob Buckland ?:-\)

Hi Jeny,

In Word in Tools=>Options save there are several options that may be helpful.

First, you can use the 'always create backup' setting so that you have your current save (Ctrl+S) plus one back.

Next, the autorecover timed setting (you set the interval) will periodically create a temporary copy of your Word document, that is
erased when you close Word normally, but usually not when Word closes of its own (or outside influenced reasons).

You can also use the 'create local copy..' setting. When you do that Word first copies the file from the network drive to the local
temp file area and you work off of that copy until you close the document.

It may also be helpful to develop a habit of using Save As (Shift+F12) and using a new file name variant (i.e. add A, 1, etc to the
end of the name), so that if you find you wanted to undo changes you have a prior version to backup to. This can be done hourly,
each major save, etc and you can delete all of the others once your project is final. One of the problems with a true 'Autosave' is
that if you decide to undo something, once its saved the 'undo' choices are reset to none.

There is a Word AutoSave addin download available, but MS recommends against using it. It can be a bit unstable (hasn't been
updated for several years) and can create the problem cited above.

In Excel, there is a timed autosave entry from its add-in, and it's that one that the Word download is based on.

When I'm working on an important product I'll often use Ctrl+S to save after almost any change to the document from pasting, typing
or inserting. In part so I can get back to a known point and partly for just in case :)

==========
College campuses often have unreliable networks.
Today I lost a lot of work I had done on a research project, because the
network failed me.
I had a Word ('03) document in progress, which had been saved previously,
but there was some kind of network error, which caused this rediculous
computer to freeze and lose all un-saved information. I had an IT guy come
and search the whole damn computer for any remnants of my work, but to no
avail.
I understand (and live by) the concept of 'saving as you go,' but I think
that Word (and other MS Office applications for that matter) should literally
auto-save as you type.
I can't do anything about this school's unpredicatble system, so in the
name of exhausted college students everywhere, HELP. >>
--
I hope this helped you,

Bob Buckland ?:)
MS Office system products MVP

LINKS to the 2007 Office System

1. Free MS Office 2007 book from MS Press, 213 pages:
http://microsoft.com/learning/office2007/default.mspx#booksfrommspress

2.. Office 2007 Beta 2 Online Test Drive, Downloadable beta,
e-learning courses, doucmentation and movies:
http://microsoft.com/office/preview

3. Send 2007 Office System Beta 2 feedback directly to the MS Office 2007 product team with this feedback tool:
http://sas.office.microsoft.com/

4. Try the 2007 OfficeOnline preview website , without Office2007

a. Install the ActiveX access control
http://office.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?AssetID=XT101650581033

b. then visit
http://officebeta.iponet.net
 
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