WD: Moving Word AutoCorrect Entries from One Computer to Another

• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SUMMARY

This article describes how to move Word 7.0 or Word 97 AutoCorrect entries from one computer to another.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95 or Windows NT. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

AutoCorrect entries are stored in three locations: the registry, the Normal.dot file, and in an AutoCorrect list (.acl) file. The following table shows examples of what an AutoCorrect list file might look like on your computer.

                                 The .acl file will
   For this version of Word      resemble the following
   -------------------------------------------------------------------

    97                           <username>.acl
   7.0                           <username>000.acl

To Copy the AutoCorrect Entries That You Want to Share

From the computer that has the AutoCorrect list that you want to copy, use the appropriate procedure for your version of Word.

Word 97:

1. To export the registry key, do the following:

   a. Quit all programs.

   b. Click the Windows Start button, and then click Run.

   c. In the Open box, type "regedit" (without the quotation marks),

         and then click OK.
   

   d. Select the following registry key:

            HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Common\AutoCorrect
   
         NOTE: The status bar displays the following:
   
            My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\
            Common\AutoCorrect
   
      e. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File, type a
         file name, and then click Save.
   
      f. Close the registry.
   
   

2. Copy the following files to a floppy disk:

   - The exported registry file that you created in step 1e.

   - Normal.dot (the default location for this file is

        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates folder).
   

   - <username>.acl (located in the Windows directory).

1. To export the registry key, do the following:

   a. Quit all programs.

   b. Click the Windows Start button, and then click Run.

   c. In the Open box, type "regedit" (without the quotation marks),

         and then click OK.
   

   d. Go to the following registry key:

            HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft Office\95\
            AutoCorrect
   
         NOTE: The status bar displays the following:
   
            My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft
            Office\95\AutoCorrect.
   
      e. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File, type a
         file name, and then click Save.
   
      f. Close the Registry Editor.
   
   

2. Copy the following files to a floppy disk:

   - The exported registry file that you created in step 1e above.

   - Normal.dot (normally located in the C:\MSOffice\templates folder).

   - <username>000.acl (located in the Windows directory).

Word 97:

1. Rename the original Normal.dot file (the default location for this file is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates folder) and then copy the Normal.dot template from the floppy disk to the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates folder.

2. Rename the <username>.acl file (located in the Windows directory) and then copy the <username>.acl from the floppy disk to the Windows directory. Then, rename the <username>.acl file you just copied to the Windows folder to the correct <username>.acl.

   NOTE: The <username> should be the same as the login name for the computer.

3. On the Registry menu, click Import Registry File, select the exported registry file on the floppy disk, and then click Open.

   You should receive a message similar to the following:

         Information in A:\<filename>.reg has been successfully entered
         into the registry.
   

   Click OK to close the message.

4. On the Registry menu, click Exit to quit the Registry Editor.

1. Rename the original Normal.dot file (by default this file is located in the C:\MSOffice\Templates folder) and then copy the Normal.dot file from the floppy disk to the C:\MSOffice\Templates folder.

2. Rename the <username>000.acl file (located in the Windows directory) and then copy the <username>000.acl from the floppy disk into the Windows directory. Then, rename the <username>000.acl file you just copied to the Windows folder to the correct <username>000.acl.

   NOTE: The <username> should be the same as the login name for this computer.

3. On the Registry menu, click Import Registry File, select the exported registry file on the floppy disk, and then click Open. You should receive a message similar to the following:

         Information in A:\<filename>.reg has been successfully entered
         into the registry.
   

   Click OK to close the message.

4. On the Registry menu, click Exit to close the Registry Editor.

REFERENCES

For more information about where Word settings are stored in the Windows registry, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTILCE-ID: Q157464
   TITLE     : WD97: Where Settings Are Stored in the Registry

   ARTICLE-ID: Q135872
   TITLE     : WD95: Where Settings Are Stored in the Registry