WD97: Where Settings Are Stored in the Registry

• 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 system files in the Windows folder.

SUMMARY

Word 97 stores all of its settings in the Windows registry; Word 97 no longer stores information in a *.ini file or in the Winword.opt file like Word 6.x does.

This article lists which settings in the registry pertain to Word 97. The article is divided into the following sections:

• Main locations of Word settings
• Settings in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word
• Settings in HKEY\CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Common
• Settings in HKEY\CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MS Setup (ACME)
• Settings in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools
• Miscellaneous settings
• Using the RegOptions macro

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. 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.

Main Locations of Word Settings

Most settings in Word are stored in:

   \\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word

   \\HKEY_USERS\Default\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word

For the remainder of this article, all references to the \\HKEY_CURRENT_USER key apply also to the \\HKEY_USERS key, except where noted.

Settings in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word

The settings that you may need to examine during troubleshooting are located in this key. The Data key and the Options key are the most frequently changed areas.

Data Key

Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Data

      The Word 97 for Windows equivalent to the Word 6.x Winword.opt
      file is the Data key. This key contains binary information for MRU
      lists, including the MRU file list and the MRU address book list. It
      also contains the same information as was stored in the Winword.opt
      file in Word for Windows 6.x, such as Track Changes settings
      (Revision settings in Word 6.x) and Edit settings.

Default Save Key

Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Default Save

      This key sets the default format for saving documents. You can change
      the default format Word 97 uses by changing the Save Word Files As
      setting in Word. To locate this option in Word, click Options on the
      Tools menu, and then click the Save tab.

Options Key

Path: \\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Options

      This key stores those options that you can set from Word, either
      by changing menu options or by running the RegOptions macro.
      These are the editable options.

      The settings here fall into two groups: default settings and
      optional settings. Default settings are established during Setup
      and you can change them by modifying options in Word. Optional
      settings are not created during Setup; to add them you must run
      the RegOptions macro.

      The default settings located here are:

         AutoSpell              Turns Automatic spell checking on or off.

         AutoGrammar            Turns Automatic grammar checking on or off.

         Autosave-Path          Sets default folder for autosave documents.

         BackgroundPrint        Turns background printing on or off.

         BackgroundSave         Turns background saving on or off.

         EnableMacroVirus       Turns macro warning on or off.

         NoEditTime             Turns on and off recording of edit time in
                                statistics.

         Picture-Path           Sets the path for clip art.

         PlainTextAutoFormat    Sets Autoformat for Wordmail documents.

         ProgramDir             Sets the Word program folder.

         Startup-Path           Sets the path for the startup folder.

         StartWhatIsNew         Turns What is New screen on and off at
                                startup.

         Tools-Path             Sets alternative locations for proofing
                                tools.

         Wordmail-Path          Sets WordMail directory path.

         WPHelp                 Turns WordPerfect Help on or off.

      The optional settings located here are:

         Bak-Extension          Sets default extension for backup files.

         BitMapMemory           Sets memory for internal graphics cache.

         CacheSize              Sets internal document text cache for Word.

         DateFormat             Sets the default date format for Word.

         Doc-Extension          Sets the default extension for Word
                                documents.

         Doc-Path               Sets the default path for documents saved
                                in Word.

         Dot Extension          Sets the default extension for templates
                                in Word.

         OleDot                 Sets the default template used to create
                                document objects in Word or other OLE
                                applications.

         SlowShading            For printers with special drawing function,
                                allows shading of graphics.

         TimeFormat             Sets the default time format for Word.

         UpdateDictionaryNumber Sets the default order for custom
                                dictionaries.

         User Dot Path          Sets the default path for User templates.

         Workgroup Dot Path     Sets the default path for Workgroup
                                templates.

Help Key

Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Help\Files

      This key contains the paths for Word's Help files. Word Help,
      WordPerfect Help, and Visual Basic Help paths are found here.

HTML Key

Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\HTML

      This key contains the default settings for the Web Authoring
      feature. The default settings are:

         AutoUpDate             Sets the date to check the Web for updates.

         AutoUpdateAddress      Sets the web address to check for Web
                                updates.

         Bullet Path            Sets the path for web graphical bullets.

         Clipart URL            Sets the web address for new web clipart.

         Dlg Bullet Path        Sets the path for basic web bullets.

         Dlg HorizontalLine     Sets the path for basic web lines.

         HorizontalLine Path    Sets the path for web graphical lines.

         LocalContent           Sets the location for documents containing
                                default content used by the web page
                                wizard.

         LocalPageStyles        Sets the location for gifs, backgrounds,
                                and templates used by the web page wizard.

         WebArt Path            Sets the path for local clipart.

Stationery Key

Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Stationery

      This key contains the default location for the template for WordMail
      and the links to find the template.

      The four settings here are:

         Cfg File Location      Sets the path to the WordMail folder.

         Default Template       Sets the path to the template (by default,
                                Email.dot).

         DlgDefTpl              Shows a link to the default template.

         Option                 Shows a link to the default template.

Text Converters Key

Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Text Converters

      This key contains registration information for Word's text
      converters. It includes the keys for import and export converters.
      Each converter registers its extension, name, and path here.

      NOTE: Three uncommon converters registered here are the Schedule Plus
      converter, the MSPAB converter and the Outlook converter. These
      converters allow you to use contact lists through the Microsoft Word
      mail merge feature. If these keys are removed, Outlook will no longer
      appear as an available data source for a mail merge. The paths are

         HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Text
         Converters\Import\Splus

         HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Text
         Converters\Import\MSPAB

         HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Text
         Converters\Import\OUTLOOK

Wizards Key

Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\Wizards

      This key replaces the Wordwiz.ini file from previous versions of
      Word. All wizard defaults are stored here. These setting are created
      the first time you run a wizard.

WordMail Key

Path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Word\WordMail

      This key contains the window position information for WordMail.

Settings in HKEY\CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Common

This key is used by other Microsoft programs, such as the Office programs. Likewise, these settings are shared between programs. Changes made in one program's settings also appear in the other programs.

Assistant      Sets information about the chosen Office Assistant.

AutoCorrect    Sets the path to the .ACL file (which contains the
               AutoCorrect list) and lists the current settings for
               AutoCorrect.

FileNew        Sets paths for local and shared templates.

Internet       Stores settings for FTP sites and icons.

Open Find      Stores default setting for open and save dialogs in
               Microsoft Word, including current view and Filename and
               MRU lists.

Toolbars       Sets Tooltips on or off and sets button sizes for toolbars.

Userinfo       Sets user information including address, name, and initials.

Settings in HKEY\CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MS Setup (ACME)

This setting refers to the user's name, which you are prompted to fill in during Setup.

User Info      Sets the user name and company name for Setup usage

Settings in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools

This key contains paths for all Windows applets such as Equation, WordArt, and MsGraph. Paths for graphics filters and text converters are also registered in this location. There are two keys here that pertain especially to Word. One is the Graphics Filters key, which registers the import and export filters, and the other is the Text Converters key, which registers import and export converters. In addition, each filter and converter is registered individually. A list of clients using a filter, converter, or applet is listed under each tool.

Miscellaneous Settings

The .doc file name extension is registered in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT in several ways.

Class Ids are in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

Equation Editor options outlined in the RegOptions Macro are registered in \HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Equation Editor\3.0\Options\General. Note that the \Options\General folders do not show up unless options are set.

Using the RegOptions Macro

The RegOptions macro can be used to examine the Windows registry or to make changes to Word settings stored there. To run the macro:

1. On the File menu, click Templates.

2. Click Add.

3. Select the \Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Macros folder.

4. Select the Support8.Dot file and click OK. This adds the Support8 template to the "Global Templates and Add-ins" box. Click OK.

5. On the Tools menu, click Macro.

6. In the Macros In drop-down list, select Support8.dot (Template).

7. In the Macros list box, select RegOptions and click Run.