WORD temporary storage

D

dingasm

This question may sound a bit strange but where does WORD save data
(even temporary data)? I know that opening a WORD document results in a
copy of that document (renamed and begining with ~$) in the same path
as the original. But does WORD save document edits (i.e., additions,
deletions) anywhere else that are not intuitively obvious? Perhaps such
storage is used for the Undo function.

Here's a more specific scenario: I'm editing a Word document located on
a network drive using the version of WORD stored on my local PC. Are
there any remnants or evidence to be found on the local PC of that
editing session under any circumstances (i.e., normal exit, Word Crash,
Windows Crash, etc.).
 
J

Jay Freedman

This question may sound a bit strange but where does WORD save data
(even temporary data)? I know that opening a WORD document results in
a copy of that document (renamed and begining with ~$) in the same
path as the original. But does WORD save document edits (i.e.,
additions, deletions) anywhere else that are not intuitively obvious?
Perhaps such storage is used for the Undo function.

Here's a more specific scenario: I'm editing a Word document located
on a network drive using the version of WORD stored on my local PC.
Are there any remnants or evidence to be found on the local PC of that
editing session under any circumstances (i.e., normal exit, Word
Crash, Windows Crash, etc.).
Click to expand...

The primary document about this is

How Word for Windows Uses Temporary Files
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=211632

Other reading that explains various scenarios includes these:

http://word.mvps.org/faqs/apperrors/LockedFiles.htm
http://www.gmayor.com/what_to_do_when_word_crashes.htm
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/general/AutomaticSave.htm

The short version is that after a normal exit, there shouldn't be (but may
be anyway) some temp files with fragments of the document. And if "Always
make backup copy" is checked, the copy from the previous save will be
present but renamed to "Copy of xyz.wbk". After a crash of Word or Windows,
because there's no opportunity for cleanup, there could be many temp files,
but possibly no complete copy of the document.
 
S

Suzanne S. Barnhill

Furthermore, when I am working on a document, I often find that
~$wrlxxxx.tmp files are saved in the document folder. One is created for
each save after the first (the first save just updates the .wbk file), and I
can open any of them and find a complete version of the document at the
point of saving. These could well be left if Word hung or the system
crashed.
 
T

TF

And if you copy and paste between document, you'll find loads of temp files
that won't clear until Word is closed.

Terry

: Furthermore, when I am working on a document, I often find that
: ~$wrlxxxx.tmp files are saved in the document folder. One is created for
: each save after the first (the first save just updates the .wbk file), and
I
: can open any of them and find a complete version of the document at the
: point of saving. These could well be left if Word hung or the system
: crashed.
:
: --
: Suzanne S. Barnhill
: Microsoft MVP (Word)
: Words into Type
: Fairhope, Alabama USA
:
: Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup
so
: all may benefit.
:
: : > [email protected] wrote:
: > > This question may sound a bit strange but where does WORD save data
: > > (even temporary data)? I know that opening a WORD document results in
: > > a copy of that document (renamed and begining with ~$) in the same
: > > path as the original. But does WORD save document edits (i.e.,
: > > additions, deletions) anywhere else that are not intuitively obvious?
: > > Perhaps such storage is used for the Undo function.
: > >
: > > Here's a more specific scenario: I'm editing a Word document located
: > > on a network drive using the version of WORD stored on my local PC.
: > > Are there any remnants or evidence to be found on the local PC of that
: > > editing session under any circumstances (i.e., normal exit, Word
: > > Crash, Windows Crash, etc.).
: >
: > The primary document about this is
: >
: > How Word for Windows Uses Temporary Files
: > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=211632
: >
: > Other reading that explains various scenarios includes these:
: >
: > http://word.mvps.org/faqs/apperrors/LockedFiles.htm
: > http://www.gmayor.com/what_to_do_when_word_crashes.htm
: > http://word.mvps.org/faqs/general/AutomaticSave.htm
: >
: > The short version is that after a normal exit, there shouldn't be (but
may
: > be anyway) some temp files with fragments of the document. And if
"Always
: > make backup copy" is checked, the copy from the previous save will be
: > present but renamed to "Copy of xyz.wbk". After a crash of Word or
: Windows,
: > because there's no opportunity for cleanup, there could be many temp
: files,
: > but possibly no complete copy of the document.
: >
: > --
: > Regards,
: > Jay Freedman
: > Microsoft Word MVP
: >
: >
:
 
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