OFF97: AutoCorrect File Is Not Created for Each User

• Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Access 97
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you use the AutoCorrect feature in any of the programs listed at the beginning of this article on a computer that is shared by multiple users, the AutoCorrect list on the computer may contain entries created by other users who also use the same computer.

In addition, multiple users may share the same AutoCorrect list file (<User name>.acl).

CAUSE

These problems occur if the following conditions are true:

• You use a Microsoft Office 97 program on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows 95 with user profiles.

  -and-

• Each person who uses the computer does not log on to the computer at least one time before starting any of the Office 97 programs.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, make sure that each user logs on to the computer at least once before running any of the Microsoft Office 97 programs for the first time. When each user logs on, Windows 95 creates the proper entries for that user in the registry. This step prevents a new user from inheriting the registry entries of an existing user and allows each person who logs on to the computer to use an individual AutoCorrect list file.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Office 97.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows 95 creates a user profile when a user logs on to a computer for the first time. When the profile is created, the corresponding registry keys for that user are also created. One of the registry keys that Windows 95 creates controls which AutoCorrect list is used by each user.

The behavior described in this article occurs if a new user logs on to the computer after any of the Microsoft Office 97 programs are run. When this occurs, the new user inherits the registry entries of another user, and both users share a common AutoCorrect list file.

For example, assume you are using a computer running Windows 95 with user profiles, and the computer is shared by the following four users:

   Andrew
   Barbara
   Carly
   Dexter

If Barbara logs on to the computer before any of the Microsoft Office 97 programs are started, she will use her own AutoCorrect list file.