Where does Word X (and 2004 for that matter) store Autotext entries?

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Mark Gibson - 21 Dec 2005 02:43 GMT

I have a client where every day the users get a fresh "normal.dot" as
part of the login process (via an applescript) from a central location.
This ensure that they are all using the same corporate standards etc.

Each user however is able to maintain their own "personal" Autotext
entries.

If I want to move a user from machine 1 to machine 2, which file to I
copy over to ensure that the "personal" autotext entries appear on the
2nd machine?

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Beth Rosengard - 21 Dec 2005 20:58 GMT

Hi Mark,

The file for AutoCorrect entries is here:

~/Library/Preferences/Microsoft/Microsoft Office ACL [English]

(where ~ stands for the user's Home folder).

This ACL file stores plain text AutoCorrect entries. Formatted entries are
stored in the Normal template so if you're tossing Normal, you're going to
lose those.

However, are your client's users actually using AutoText or AutoCorrect
entries? Auto*Text* entries are stored in the Normal template itself and
the only way to transfer them would be via the Organizer (Tools> Templates &
Add-ins> Organizer> AutoText). The user would have to hold on to the old
Normal long enough to transfer the AutoText entries into the new Normal.
This can be done in one operation by using the Shift key to select all the
entries at once. If you need more details about using Organizer, post back.

HTH,

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Beth Rosengard
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On 12/20/05 6:43 PM, in article
1135133017.039128.43280@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com, "Mark Gibson"
<gibsonm@bigpond.net.au> wrote:

> I have a client where every day the users get a fresh "normal.dot" as
> part of the login process (via an applescript) from a central location.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> copy over to ensure that the "personal" autotext entries appear on the
> 2nd machine?

Reply to this Message

JE McGimpsey - 21 Dec 2005 21:25 GMT

> However, are your client's users actually using AutoText or AutoCorrect
> entries? Auto*Text* entries are stored in the Normal template itself and
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> This can be done in one operation by using the Shift key to select all the
> entries at once. If you need more details about using Organizer, post back.

A better option might be to have each of the users have their own
startup add-in (global template) where their autotext is stored. That
way you can trash Normal any time without loss. See

http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/GlobalTemplate.htm

(hit refresh a few times per page in Safari, or use another browser).

The downside, of course, is that Word stores all new autotext in Normal
by default, and one must then use the Organizer it to the startup add-in.

Once the user learns how to do that, however, they won't have to worry
about Normal's regular demise.

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Mark Gibson - 28 Dec 2005 20:43 GMT

Well I thought they were using "Auto Text" but as they retain their
entries even after "normal" is replaced at every startup (this
process is already in place- there is an applescript that connects them
to the server, deletes the existing "normal", copies a fresh one
from the server and then launches Word) then perhaps they are using
"auto correct".

I'll confirm and get back to you.

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Mac Forum / Applications / Word / December 2005

Where does Word X (and 2004 for that matter) store Autotext entries?