Macros for changing and troubleshooting Word settings - Help and How-to

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Macros for changing and troubleshooting Word settings

Applies to: Microsoft Office Word 2003

The Support template (template: A file or files that contain the structure and tools for shaping such elements as the style and page layout of finished files. For example, Word templates can shape a single document, and FrontPage templates can shape an entire Web site.), which comes with Microsoft Word, provides macros (macro: An action or a set of actions that you can use to automate tasks. Macros are recorded in the Visual Basic for Applications programming language.) that you can use to backup, change, and troubleshoot some Word settings. To locate the Support template, do the following:

Go to Windows Explorer and follow the folder path to:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Macros
and then click to run the Support.dot file.

Note If you cannot locate this folder or the support template, run the setup program again.

Show How?

On the Features to Install screen in the setup program, expand Microsoft Word, and then expand Wizards and Templates.
Select More Templates and Macros, click the arrow next to your selection, and then select Run from My Computer.

Use the following macros from the Support template to help address a problem if you contact Microsoft Product Support Services:

Show AutoCorrect Backup

This macro creates a backup file of your AutoCorrect list. You can use this macro if you want to copy your AutoCorrect settings to another computer.

Show Registry Options

This macro enables you to change some Word settings, such as the colors used for wavy underlines and smart tags (smart tags: Data recognized and labeled as a particular type. For example, a person's name or the name of a recent Microsoft Outlook e-mail message recipient is a type of data that can be recognized and labeled with a smart tag.) and the paths for some file locations.

Show Troubleshoot Utility

This macro enables you to troubleshoot problems by restoring some default settings.

If you find one or more of these macros useful, you can load the template as a global template (global template: Stores macros, AutoText entries, and custom toolbar, menu, and shortcut key settings that you can use while you work with documents based on any template. By default, the Normal template is a global template.), so that you can use the macros while working with other files. You can also copy the macros to another template or assign them to a toolbar button, menu item, or shortcut key.

Important It is recommended that you use these macros carefully, because some can change default settings. Incorrectly editing the registry may severely damage your system. At the very least, you should back up any valued data on the computer before making changes to the registry.