Word 2010 Macros disappear when Word is closed

FAO Dave WEINTRAUB

I've typed up and collated all the help I got so that I can remember it next time (if ever I feel I can face another "upgrade"), and here it is.  The steps described solved my highly similar problem completely - including my ten-year personalisation of Word so that it types été when I type ete because I type daily in French and over the years have added helpful autocorrect accents like this.  If it works for you as it has for me I'll be delighted!

Ken UK

1. Importing autotext/macros from your old normal.dot template

Here are the Graham Mayor instructions that worked for me:-

1.       If you have an old normal.dot file with your macros from an earlier Word version, CLOSE WORD before doing anything and don’t open it again until these instructions say so.

2.       Rename the Word 2010 normal template (normal.dotm) to oldnormal.dotm

3.       Put your old normal.dot file (with all your old macros/autotext entries in it and used to work) in the same folder

4.       Restart Word and then re-boot the computer

5.       Word will (in my experience only on re-boot) then create a new normal template and EVERYTHING worked – macros and their keyboard shortcuts; autotext entries of several paragraphs – the lot.  So I didn’t do any more!

6.       The rest of Graham’s instructions didn’t work for me (I couldn’t get a prompt to save the normal template whatever I did – even checking Word Options > Advanced > Save > Prompt before saving normal template and more).  This meant I couldn’t write new macros at all – but I can now, so read on.

How to solve the Word 2010 won’t save Macros problem

Charles effectively solved this for me by suggesting Word Add-ins were causing the problem, but there are different ways of disabling them, of which only one worked for me – viz:-

1.       In Word, chose OPTIONS from the drop down File button

2.       Click on Addins

3.       At the bottom of that page it says MANAGE  > Com addins > Go – click GO

4.       Untick all the addins and re-start Word

In my case the addins causing the problem were PDF Converter Pro 7, and I don’t know what they do and haven’t missed them so I’ve left the boxes unticked, but of course if they do anything you miss you can always re-tick them after writing your macros and customising the QAT or Ribbon.

Hope this solves your problem!

Suzanne,

I have followed all of your steps, but am still having trouble with the following:

1. I cannot get my template (normal) to save once I close Word. I've reset the font/size/paragraph spacing for new docs, by updating Normal and modifying it.  Any new files I open while in Word follow that style, but when I close the program, it defaults back to Calibri 11.
2. Also, any time I create a macro, they work on the new files, again, until I close Word. Upon reopening the program, I get the error message “the macro cannot be found or has been disabled because of your macro security settings”. I’ve changed the settings to accept all macros.

I have renamed "normal" and opened "normal" to set my new preferences, but it always returns to the defaults.

  It may also be that Office 2013 installed itself on my computer along with 2007.  I would like to keep 2007, since I train others, and I need to see that interface to create tutorials.

Thank you very much,                  

Dave Weintraub

You've come in at the end of a long conversation. Your response is to a message posted almost two years ago. Please read the entire thread.

Responses here very often depend on both the version of Word and the Operating System. This question has been marked as "Answered." Many of the best responders here look primarily at unanswerd questions. You may want to start your own question thread. You will get fresh views that way.

You can have multiple versions of word on one computer. I currently have four on this one. You want to have the user template folder settings for each version point to a different folder. Otherwise each version may try to overwrite your normal template with its own version of that template. See Graham Mayor's page Toolbars and Word 2007/2010 - dual version registry hack for ideas on that. That problem is NOT directly related to inability to save macros or defaults, though.

Charles

 

I have, and have done what I think I understand, viz:-

 

(1) I've saved my macros to a different template but can't load it - get an error message about the project can't be loaded

(2) I don't understand "open, dirty, and then save the Normal template"

(3) I disabled all Add-Ins but it didn't change anything.  I'm reluctant to actually remove them as I don't really know what they do and I might want them!

 

I'm taking my computer in to my technician tomorrow to see what he can do and will post any progress achieved.

 

Ken

(1) for a template to be "loaded" it must be set as a global template. The simplest way to do this is to put it in Word's Startup Folder.

(2) Open the Normal template (rather than create a new document based on it).

"Dirty" means make a deliberate, non-messy, change to the template. Type the letter "a" and use backspace (not undo) to delete it. The template is now "dirty." Word knows that it has been changed.

Save means use File > Save to actually save the template.

(3) Disabling rather than removing would be my choice as well.

The technician may not understand this and may just wipe your system! Be careful.

Suzanne,

I have followed all of your steps, but am still having trouble with the following:

1. I cannot get my template (normal) to save once I close Word. I've reset the font/size/paragraph spacing for new docs, by updating Normal and modifying it.  Any new files I open while in Word follow that style, but when I close the program, it defaults back to Calibri 11.
2. Also, any time I create a macro, they work on the new files, again, until I close Word. Upon reopening the program, I get the error message “the macro cannot be found or has been disabled because of your macro security settings”. I’ve changed the settings to accept all macros.

I have renamed "normal" and opened "normal" to set my new preferences, but it always returns to the defaults.

  It may also be that Office 2013 installed itself on my computer along with 2007.  I would like to keep 2007, since I train others, and I need to see that interface to create tutorials.

Thank you very much,                  

Dave Weintraub