WD98: New Code Lost When Word Started with SHIFT Key (176996)

SYMPTOMS

When you start Word while holding down the SHIFT key (when you hold down the SHIFT key, the Normal template is not loaded), and then create a macro that you want to save as part of the Normal template, the macro will be lost when you exit and restart Word.

CAUSE

When you start Word while holding down the SHIFT key, the following occurs concerning macro functionality:

Previously saved code is not visible.
Newly entered code is not saved.
No warning is given about the loss of newly entered code.

WORKAROUND

Before you attempt to create a new Visual Basic for Applications macro, subroutine, or function, close and restart Word (do not hold down the SHIFT key when you restart Word).

CAUTION: IF you have started Word holding the SHIFT key and you attempt to save newly created macro code to the Normal template (while in the Visual Basic Editor, on the File menu click Save Normal), you will be prompted to overwrite your existing Normal template. If you choose to overwrite, all macros and customizations in the existing Normal template will be lost.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Holding down the SHIFT key while starting Word disables everything including the Normal template. Starting Word this way ignores the existing Normal template and creates a "blank" Normal template which you are then prompted to save when you quit Word. (This is equivalent to starting Word for Windows with the /a switch.)

Holding down SHIFT+OPTION disables auto-run macros but still opens the existing Normal template.

Holding down either SHIFT or SHIFT+OPTION will disable any Auto macros.