OFF97: Search Button and Search Box Missing in Office Assistant

• Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Office Binder 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Microsoft Visual Basic Editor with any of products listed at the beginning of this article, the balloon that appears above the Office Assistant may not contain the Search button or the box to type in your question.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the Guess Help Topics option in the Options tab of the Office Assistant dialog box is turned off.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, turn on the Guess Help Topics option. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar.

2. In the Office Assistant balloon, click Options.

3. On the Options tab, click to select the Guess Help Topics check box, and then click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The balloon that normally appears above the Office Assistant contains the following items:

• The caption "What would you like to do?"
• A Search button, and box to type your search.
• Tips, Options, and Close buttons.

For more information about using and controlling the Office Assistant, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q158065
   TITLE     : OFF97: Controlling How and When the Office Assistant
               Appears