Word Clipboard Toolbar Always Docks Itself

O

Owl1

Hi Tony - Thank you for the idea to start Word in Safe Mode. I tried this: it
also didn't help. The Clipboard toolbar behaves exactly the same way: it is
always docked when Word opens, and always docked in every Word document you
subsequently open.

Yes, the Clipboard toolbar used to work just fine! And it was a great help
in the work I do. I'd really like to get it back. As I've said before,
probably to most people this seems unimportant, but when you need to go from
one opened Word document to another and make regular use of multiple
Clipboard items, to have it float is really helpful.

This has become so much of a frustration (and source of guilt for taking up
you experts' time trying to help me) that I've thought of uninstalling Word
2000 and then reinstalling it, using the Reinstall option in Control Panel
for Office 2000.

As an alternative, I've thought of trying to install only Word 2003 from the
Standard Edition of Office 2003 that someone gave me four years ago. I never
installed it because I was afraid it would automatically uninstall programs
in Office 2000 Premium Edition that I rely on (PhotoDraw and Publisher).

I raised this question on the MS Office Community Forum, and have gotten
conflicting answers, so I'm still trying to patch Word 2000 somehow.

Again, I want to thank you guys for your generous willingness to offer some
guidance!
 
O

Owl1

Hi Tony - Thank you for the idea to start Word in Safe Mode. I tried this: it
also didn't help. The Clipboard toolbar behaves exactly the same way: it is
always docked when Word opens, and always docked in every Word document you
subsequently open.

Yes, the Clipboard toolbar used to work just fine! And it was a great help
in the work I do. I'd really like to get it back. As I've said before,
probably to most people this seems unimportant, but when you need to go from
one opened Word document to another and make regular use of multiple
Clipboard items, to have it float is really helpful.

This has become so much of a frustration (and source of guilt for taking up
you experts' time trying to help me) that I've thought of uninstalling Word
2000 and then reinstalling it, using the Reinstall option in Control Panel
for Office 2000.

As an alternative, I've thought of trying to install only Word 2003 from the
Standard Edition of Office 2003 that someone gave me four years ago. I never
installed it because I was afraid it would automatically uninstall programs
in Office 2000 Premium Edition that I rely on (PhotoDraw and Publisher).

I raised this question on the MS Office Community Forum, and have gotten
conflicting answers, so I'm still trying to patch Word 2000 somehow.

Again, I want to thank you guys for your generous willingness to offer some
guidance!
 
O

Owl1

Hi Tony - Thank you for the idea to start Word in Safe Mode. I tried this: it
also didn't help. The Clipboard toolbar behaves exactly the same way: it is
always docked when Word opens, and always docked in every Word document you
subsequently open.

Yes, the Clipboard toolbar used to work just fine! And it was a great help
in the work I do. I'd really like to get it back. As I've said before,
probably to most people this seems unimportant, but when you need to go from
one opened Word document to another and make regular use of multiple
Clipboard items, to have it float is really helpful.

This has become so much of a frustration (and source of guilt for taking up
you experts' time trying to help me) that I've thought of uninstalling Word
2000 and then reinstalling it, using the Reinstall option in Control Panel
for Office 2000.

As an alternative, I've thought of trying to install only Word 2003 from the
Standard Edition of Office 2003 that someone gave me four years ago. I never
installed it because I was afraid it would automatically uninstall programs
in Office 2000 Premium Edition that I rely on (PhotoDraw and Publisher).

I raised this question on the MS Office Community Forum, and have gotten
conflicting answers, so I'm still trying to patch Word 2000 somehow.

Again, I want to thank you guys for your generous willingness to offer some
guidance!
 
O

Owl1

Hi Tony - Thank you for the idea to start Word in Safe Mode. I tried this: it
also didn't help. The Clipboard toolbar behaves exactly the same way: it is
always docked when Word opens, and always docked in every Word document you
subsequently open.

Yes, the Clipboard toolbar used to work just fine! And it was a great help
in the work I do. I'd really like to get it back. As I've said before,
probably to most people this seems unimportant, but when you need to go from
one opened Word document to another and make regular use of multiple
Clipboard items, to have it float is really helpful.

This has become so much of a frustration (and source of guilt for taking up
you experts' time trying to help me) that I've thought of uninstalling Word
2000 and then reinstalling it, using the Reinstall option in Control Panel
for Office 2000.

As an alternative, I've thought of trying to install only Word 2003 from the
Standard Edition of Office 2003 that someone gave me four years ago. I never
installed it because I was afraid it would automatically uninstall programs
in Office 2000 Premium Edition that I rely on (PhotoDraw and Publisher).

I raised this question on the MS Office Community Forum, and have gotten
conflicting answers, so I'm still trying to patch Word 2000 somehow.

Again, I want to thank you guys for your generous willingness to offer some
guidance!
 
O

Owl1

Hi Tony - Thank you for the idea to start Word in Safe Mode. I tried this: it
also didn't help. The Clipboard toolbar behaves exactly the same way: it is
always docked when Word opens, and always docked in every Word document you
subsequently open.

Yes, the Clipboard toolbar used to work just fine! And it was a great help
in the work I do. I'd really like to get it back. As I've said before,
probably to most people this seems unimportant, but when you need to go from
one opened Word document to another and make regular use of multiple
Clipboard items, to have it float is really helpful.

This has become so much of a frustration (and source of guilt for taking up
you experts' time trying to help me) that I've thought of uninstalling Word
2000 and then reinstalling it, using the Reinstall option in Control Panel
for Office 2000.

As an alternative, I've thought of trying to install only Word 2003 from the
Standard Edition of Office 2003 that someone gave me four years ago. I never
installed it because I was afraid it would automatically uninstall programs
in Office 2000 Premium Edition that I rely on (PhotoDraw and Publisher).

I raised this question on the MS Office Community Forum, and have gotten
conflicting answers, so I'm still trying to patch Word 2000 somehow.

Again, I want to thank you guys for your generous willingness to offer some
guidance!
 
O

Owl1

Hi Tony - Thank you for the idea to start Word in Safe Mode. I tried this: it
also didn't help. The Clipboard toolbar behaves exactly the same way: it is
always docked when Word opens, and always docked in every Word document you
subsequently open.

Yes, the Clipboard toolbar used to work just fine! And it was a great help
in the work I do. I'd really like to get it back. As I've said before,
probably to most people this seems unimportant, but when you need to go from
one opened Word document to another and make regular use of multiple
Clipboard items, to have it float is really helpful.

This has become so much of a frustration (and source of guilt for taking up
you experts' time trying to help me) that I've thought of uninstalling Word
2000 and then reinstalling it, using the Reinstall option in Control Panel
for Office 2000.

As an alternative, I've thought of trying to install only Word 2003 from the
Standard Edition of Office 2003 that someone gave me four years ago. I never
installed it because I was afraid it would automatically uninstall programs
in Office 2000 Premium Edition that I rely on (PhotoDraw and Publisher).

I raised this question on the MS Office Community Forum, and have gotten
conflicting answers, so I'm still trying to patch Word 2000 somehow.

Again, I want to thank you guys for your generous willingness to offer some
guidance!
 
T

Tony Jollans

A bit of a rambling respone - I'm sorry.

If I remember, the default out of the box is for this toolbar to be
floating, which means that I would expect to see it float when you start
Word in Safe Mode. I think I need to experiment a little but that may take
me a little while (not least to get my wife off the PC where I still have
Word 2000!).

I am interested that you say it is docked in every Word document you open.
Does that mean that, if you have it floating and then open another document,
it is then docked in that document window but still floating in the first
document window?

The Office clipboard is a common Office feature. If you have other Office
applications, Excel 2000, say, how does it behave there?

Although I don't think it should be significant, could you also check you
registry (don't change anything at the moment, just check it) for a value.
The Key (where you have to navigate to in the left and pane) is
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common\General and the Value
(in the right hand pane) is AcbControl. If it exists (and it may not), what
value does it have?

If you have Windows XP or later, can you add a new userid to the machine,
and test Word 2000 under that user to see what happens? You can remove the
user after the test - and take the option to remove all user data, so that
nothing should be left of the test.

I fully understand that you want the toolbar close to hand - a feature that
is important to many people, and which has largely been taken away in Word
2007.

It is unlikely that re-installing Word 2000 will make any difference;
re-installing doesn't change user options in the registry, and doesn't
change anything inside individual documents and templates (including
normal.dot).

You can safely install Word 2003. The only proviso is that you install it
after installing any Office 2000 components you wish to keep (and if you
ever wish to reinstall any Office 2000 components, you must uninstall Word
2003, reinstall the Office 2000 bits and then reinstall Word 2003). When you
install it, you will have the option to update Word 2000 to Word 2003, or to
install it separately and have both versions on the machine side by side.
You are not alone in wanting to keep PhotoDraw 2000, although it is getting
a bit long in the tooth now.

The interface to the Office clipboard in 2003 is different, though. It uses
a 'Task Pane' (a big window, by default docked to the right, but which can
float and be resized). Task Panes were introduced in Word 2002, but in 2002
and 2003 there is just one Task Pane and several uses for it so it is not
possible to keep the clipboard visible all the time. Although I guess you
don't do it, it is possible to interact with the Office clipboard via VBA in
Word 2000 by accessing the toolbar; this option does not exist in later
versions.
 
O

Owl1

Apology and Disclaimer: I want to apologize for the multiple postings,
although not a one is my fault! Maybe it's my dial-up service, but often when
I try to post a reply, I get an error message from Microsoft apologizing that
the post could not be sent and to try again. And so I did!! Not my fault,
period.

Tony,

Thank you very (underline very) for being willing to thinking and write
about this. I do (underlined) appreciate it a lot.

To answer your questions: First, I haven't used other Office programs since
this problem with the Clipboard toolbar began happening, and I hadn't thought
to try it in other programs. I just tried it in Excel 2000, and exactly the
same thing happens there: The toolbar appears docked and has to be dragged
with the mouse to float.

Your next question, about the Clipboard toolbar being docked in every Word
document I open: Yes, your interpretation is right: Once I have it floating
in one document and then oopen another, it will be docked in that document
but is still floating in the first document.

I checked the registry as you instructed. There is no AcbControl in the
righthand pane next to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common\General

The last idea you had, to add a new userid to the computer: Sorry, I don't
know how to do this, and then wouldn't know how to remove that user after the
test. If you think it's worth your time explaining how to do this, I'm glad
to do it. I have Windows XP.

Intuitively it seemed like it would help to re-install Word 2000, and what
you said confirms this.

What you told me about Word 2003 is helpful. I've never used it, and before
I install it would like to understand how Word 2003 offers a Clipboard. If,
as you wrote, it's not possible to keep it visible all the time, I wonder if
it would be worthwhile to install Word 2003 (for me, that is). Is there any
webpage that easily comes to mind that shows what a Tast Pane will look like?
(Please don't go to any trouble to find one if you don't happen to have it on
the tip of your tongue!)

Yes, I do like PhotoDraw. It helped me to design a complex book cover that I
couldn't have done otherwise (PhotoShop Elements was the only alternative I
had).

Last, I don't know enough to know what "interacting with the Office
clipboard via VBA in Word 2000 by accessing the toolbar" means. If (and only
if!) you're not too tired by all this, I'd be interested in knowing what this
means.

I hope this posting will go through without multiple copies! Microsoft needs
to repair something, IMHO.

Thanks again!
 
G

Graham Mayor

If you are using a dial-up service then you really need to access the NNTP
server directly. Some of the web portals are dreadful, as well as being
painfully slow. See http://www.gmayor.com/MSNews.htm This forum is
microsoft.public.word.docmanagement

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
 
T

Tony Jollans

I'm afraid I can't duplicate this and my Word 2000 is crashing (probably due
to a fairly complex setup) so I am going to be guessing - and am running out
of ideas.

Firstly, to set up a new user to test with, do the following

Press the (Windows) Start Button
Select "Control Panel"
Double click on "User Accounts"
Click on "Create a new account"
Enter a name for the account
Press "Next"
Select "Limited"
Press "Create Account"

Press the (Windows) Start Button again
Select "Log Off"
Select "Switch User"
Logon to your new user (it will take a few moments to initialise)
Start Word 2000 (this will also take a few moments to configure)
Check out the Clipboard and note what happens
Close Word 2000
Press the (Windows) Start Button
Select "Log Off"
Select "Log Off"

Log back on to the original user
Double click on the pcture for the user you just created
Select "Delete"
On the prompt "Do you want to keep files", Press "Delete Files"
On the "Are you sure" prompt, press "Delete Account"
Close the "User Accounts" window
Close the Control Panel.

Now, as this also happens in Excel, it seems like an Office, rather than a
Word setting. There is a registry key
"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common\Toolbars". I don't
know whether there will be anything there of interest but cn you post here
what values are in that key? It may help, it may not.

Sounds like you don't know VBA so don't worry what I said about the
clipboard. There is a page somewhere on the word.mvps.org website with a
five minute quick guide to VBA, but I can't remember the address at the
moment; I'll try and find it for you - a little bedtime reading if nothing
else :)

I'll try and find and/or post some images from 2003 if I have some time
later.
 
O

Owl1

Hi Tony -

To the right of
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common\Toolbars there are
three items: Default ("value not set"), AdaptiveMenus (value "0"), and
Customize DlgTab (value "1").

About working with the registry to solve this problem, I found the following
"tip"at http://word.tips.net/Pages/T001518_Planting_the_Clipboard_Toolbar.html
The tip is intended for people who, unlike me, are frustrated having the
Word 2000 Clipboard appear and float. This fellow's tip is intended to
*prevent* this from happening. He suggests changing the value of AcbControl
to 1 from its default value of 0. Since there is no AcbControl listed in my
computer's registry, do you think it could plausibly solve the Clipboard
problem I'm having by following this fellow's instructions, but after adding
AcbControl, make sure to leave it with a value of 0?
Close Word. You don't need it open to perform any of these steps.
Click on the Start button. Windows displays the Start menu.
Choose Run from the Start menu. Windows displays the Run dialog box.
In the Open field, enter the name regedit.
Click on OK. The regedit (Registry Editor) program is started.
You want to find and select the
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common\General key.
Choose New from the Edit menu, and then DWORD Value from the resulting
submenu. The Registry Editor adds New Value #1 at the bottom of the values
shown in the right pane of the Registry Editor.
Change the name of the new value to AcbControl, and make sure it is selected.
The default value of AcbControl should be 0. With this value, the Clipboard
toolbar is triggered and displayed as normal. To change the value, choose
Modify from the Edit menu. Registry Editor displays the Edit DWORD Value
dialog box.
Change the value to 1 and click on OK. This value turns off the triggering
mechanism used to display the Clipboard toolbar automatically.
Close the Registry Editor.
I haven't added a second user yet, and will do that if you think the above
isn't promising.

Thank you again for your generous help. You're good to give some guidance.
 
O

Owl1

Graham - Thanks for your suggestion. My dial-up connection is often
frustrating. I tried going to http://www.gmayor.com/MSNews.htm , but get a
message:

Error 404: NOT FOUND!
Your browser cannot find the document corresponding to the URL you typed in.

I've tried several times. I'd gladly learn how to connect in a better way if
you have any further suggestions.

Many thanks for your help.
 
S

Suzanne S. Barnhill

Instead of typing in the URL, why not just click on it in the message? If
it's not clickable, try copying and pasting it into your browser's address
bar.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org
 
G

Graham Mayor

The page is alive and well?

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
 
T

Tony Jollans

Thanks for those values - nothing there that suggests it is relevant,
unfortunately.

The AcbControl value (as far as I know) simply controls whether or not the
clipboard toolbar displays by default - not how or where it displays..

I'm sorry that we don't seem to be getting anywhere with this. I will be
away from tomorrow till the 17th, but will try and dig further on my return
if nobody else pops up with any answers.

If you want to be really bold, you could try renaming the whole
....\Office\9.0\ key (or even the whole ...\Office\ key) in the registry.
Word should recreate it next time it starts, but it is possible it will ask
for install media (I just can't recall). I still couldn't be sure it would
solve the problem, though.
 
O

Owl1

Suzanne - Before I posted about this, I had done what you suggested --
clicking on the URL, as well as copying and pasting it into my browser's
address bar. And I just tried again to do this. Each time, I get an "Error
404: NOT FOUND!" I have no problems going to other URLs, so believe this one
isn't working.
 
S

Suzanne S. Barnhill

It works fine for me now, and it worked fine for me when I tested it before
I posted previously. I do get http://www.gmayor.com:80/MSNews.htm rather
than http://www.gmayor.com/MSNews.htm (which often happens when I click on a
link in a NG message, but the page is the same.

In any case, if you can't access Graham's page, you can find equally useful
information at http://www.insideoutlookexpress.com/resources/communities.htm

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org
 
G

Graham Mayor

The web site is working correctly. Can you access my home page -
http://www.gmayor.com and navigate to Favourites where you will find the
link as the first item under 'Other useful links'

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
 
O

Owl1

Tony,

Many thanks for your thoughtful suggestions. I've now tried everything I can
think of and have given up trying to use Word 2000 any more. The endless
stubborn docking behavior of the Clipboard toolbar, in document after
document, got to be too frustrating, so I installed Word 2003 (Office 2003
Standard Edition), replacing Word 2000 in the process. I was and still am
hopeful that the new-to-me Clipboard tool pane will work better.

I'm not sure at this point that Word 2003 is going to help me much more than
my old disabled Word 2000: the Word 2003 Clipboard tool pane has about the
same limitation: once I open a document and get the task pane to display and
size it so it displays next to the text, this doesn't carry over and just
appear in subsequent documents that I open. For each one, I have to double
click on the icon in the taskbar to get the pane to appear (a pain). -- Do
you know of a way to get Word 2003 automaticaly to display the Clipboard task
pane in all document windows?

Thank you again for your good attempts to help with Word 2000.
 

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