Templates and taking way to long to open word docs

[Guest]

Hi. One of my offices split off and are now on a new server at a different
office. When a particular word doc is opened, it takes about 5 minutes to
open up. When it finally opens up, you can see that it is trying to access
the template in the old location (old server). Once you change it, it is ok.
Do i have to do this for each file that points to the old server or is there
a way to apply some type of blanket fix that will apply for all files that
access the template?

 

[Beth Melton]

There is a patch available if you are using Windows XP and Word 2002
for this issue:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=823372

Call 1-800-936-4900 and tell them you are requesting the hotfix
described in KB823372. Obtaining a hotfix is free support.

That would be my first suggestion - since we have begged MS to provide
a fix for this problem. The more that call to obtain the fix the more
that need it justified.

Also note the Reg key will not be active if you do not have the
hotfix. Basically the hotfix adds another variable for Word to test
upon opening a file. If the variable is not accommodated within the
Word program then the Reg key will not be recognized or utilized. The
added Reg key without the hotfix doesn't hurt anything - but it
doesn't do anything either.

The Word MVPs came up with a few workarounds before the patch was made
available - but they aren't the best. The most recommended advice is
to recreate the server names and copy the templates so Word is able to
find attached template.

Of course that is not always feasible so the next alternative is to
modify the code in the Workaround section of the KB article to loop
through a folder and change the attached template, however can be time
consuming.

--
Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/