WD97: Word Hangs Saving Document with WordArt to RTF

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you save a document that contains a WordArt object, you may receive the following error message:

   This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down.

   If the problem persists, contact the program vendor.

   WINWORD caused an invalid page fault in module WINWORD.EXE at
   0137:30093d71.

CAUSE

A symbol font that is represented by a square is either a character that does not exist in the font or is not correctly converted from one font to a character in the current font.

In Microsoft Word 97, when you try to use an unrecognized character in WordArt, WordArt will display the unrecognized character as a question mark. WordArt does not understand what the character should be. When you try to save the file as Rich Text Format (RTF), Word is not able to correctly convert the WordArt object containing an unrecognized character. This situation will result in an invalid page fault.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, install Microsoft Word 97 Service Release 1 (SR- 1).

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Word 97 SR-1.

For additional information about SR-1, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q172475
   TITLE     : OFF97: How to Obtain and Install MS Office 97 SR-1

REFERENCES

For more information about WordArt in Microsoft Word 97, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q157299
   TITLE: WD97: Where to Find Word 6.x or 7.x Commands and Features

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Word Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component