WD: "Cannot Retrieve Properties for..."

 Last reviewed: February 6, 1998
Article ID: Q133195
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you try to view the properties of a document that has a preview picture, and you are looking at files in Preview view in the File Open dialog box, you receive the error message 

   Cannot retrieve properties for '<filename>'
where "<filename>" is the name of the document whose properties you are trying to view.

CAUSE

This happens because Word actually opens the file in order to display the preview.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Word for Windows 95, version 7.0 and Microsoft Word 97 for Windows. Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

WORKAROUND

Since Word does not display the preview immediately, you can attempt to view the properties before Word opens the file by doing the following:

  1. Click another filename.

  2. Click the file you want to examine.

  3. Quickly click the right mouse button and choose Properties, or quickly press ALT+ENTER.

The properties now display.

MORE INFORMATION

You can save a preview picture with a document by opening the document, clicking Properties on the File menu, and selecting the Save Preview Picture option (at the bottom of the dialog box). Selecting this option saves a snapshot of the first page of the document.

To view this snapshot, click Open on the File menu, and select the Preview button at the top of the Open dialog box.

KBCategory: buglist7.0
KBSubcategory:
Additional query words: word95 7.0 thumbnail word7 winword 7.0a
word97 7.0a
Keywords : kbualink97
Version : 7.0 7.0a 97
Platform : WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: February 6, 1998
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