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Repairing WordPerfect documents and templates -
How to find and
fix common problems -
Includes -
- Why documents and
templates can become damaged and some typical symptoms
- A "troubleshooting path"
you can use to isolate the problem
- Various repair methods
- Links to information on
repairing the WordPerfect program itself, fixing print (and printer)
problems, etc.
- Preventing problems with
documents and templates
Related pages - Repairing
'bad' or damaged WordPerfect program files
-
Some tips and procedures, and links to other resources. Printer and
fax formatting problems
- WordPerfect makes very heavy use of the printer, so some issues such
as a slow opening of the program or documents, or strange video (or
video-vs-printout) problems can be traced to the printer or its
connection status.
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|
Once
in a while --
hopefully rarely --
things "go wrong" in software programs, and WordPerfect is no
exception. This
page should help you set things right again.
In a hurry?
Even though
it might not seem so at times, the
majority of unfamiliar or non-obvious problems in WordPerfect tend to
involve internal damage (corruption) to the document you are working
on or trying to open -- that is, assuming it is
not simply a formatting
problem, which
is even more common than document corruption.
If you can start WordPerfect, try the restore/repair methods in the "Primary methods and tools"
section below on the document that is giving you problems. But be aware
that without following a systematic
troubleshooting procedure these might only be a shot in the dark, so
to speak. But they are quick and easy to do, and if you have backed up
the document no harm is done trying them first.
On the other hand, if these steps do not work for you, or if you cannot
open WordPerfect,
then please read the rest of this page for a troubleshooting path you
can follow. Some "problems" might be caused by user formatting issues,
a damaged template, a WordPerfect setting, a bad program file, or even an external factor
involving your printer, a corrupt Windows profile, etc. The troubleshooting path
below should help you find a solution. |
Before
you begin ...
This page is the
culmination of many years of troubleshooting experience by this author
and many other power users of WordPerfect. Think of it as a repair guide or online reference when you
are having a problem in WordPerfect. Some
of the information is based on an intimate knowledge of how the
program works
"behind the scenes" and some is based on user discoveries (and verifications of them) in the real world. To
be sure, it contains a lot of detailed information. Hopefully,
you
will find what you need on this page or linked pages. Not
everything here will apply to your current problem. But some of it
might, someday. Bear that in mind as you scan this page.
On the other hand it
will
not require advanced computer skills to use it. As a colleague once
noted: An explanation
in words makes any activity seem more complex than it is in practice.
I
strongly suggest that you take a little time to read -- or at
least visually scan -- this entire page before employing a particular
suggestion or solution. It is better to understand and
then employ in the given order the logical steps
discussed below, which are listed from the most likely causes and
solutions to the least likely, than to automatically assume some of
them are not relevant to your situation. Troubleshooting
a software program is often the systematic process of
eliminating the likely causes of problems until only
one remains.
The
key words here are systematic
(i.e.,
a logical, stepwise method) and eliminating (i.e., an
activity you carry out to find and fix the problem).
Sometimes
the process can take a little time to understand, but your diligence
and patience
should pay off with a lot more time saved in the future, since carrying
out the methods to fix things should take only a few minutes for the
majority of problems you might encounter.
Page contents ...
[These sections are best read in sequential order.
The time
to read each section at a reasonable speed, and excluding any time to study/try a method or follow links,
is shown in green.]
I.
Troubleshooting and repairing WordPerfect documents and templates (brief background, why documents and templates
can become damaged, and some typical symptoms) [<
2 min.]
II. Some
logical questions to ask yourself (a troubleshooting path to help isolate
the problem) [<
5 min.]
III. Some methods
and tools to fix damaged documents or custom
templates (listed
in order of usefulness) [<
7 min.]
IV. Fixing the default
template (but
please read the 'Troubleshooting
and repairing...' section first) [<
3 min.]
V. Miscellaneous
problems, error messages, etc. [<
3 min.] VI. When you have tried everything else: Repairing the program ... printer and fax problems ... etc. [< 5min.]
VII. Preventing
document corruption and damage [< 20 min.]
Footnote 1.
Should you reinstall WordPerfect as the first step in fixing problems? [< 2 min.]
Footnote 2. What is a
User Profile? [< 2 min.]
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I.
Troubleshooting and repairing WordPerfect documents
and templates
|
Could the
problem be with WordPerfect or with the document (or
template)?
Some symptoms
of problems:
- The program
fails to start.
- The program
starts but it is very slow to load one or more existing documents --
such as the one you last worked on.
- You see an
"Unknown Format" message when opening a document.
- The program
locks up ("freezes") unexpectantly, such as when scrolling past a certain place in the
document.
- You see strange problems such as an old document
that appears blank when
it's opened (and you know it's not blank).
- A document's
formatting shows unexplained or even bizarre changes from what you
expect.
- You notice other
"odd" behavior -- especially if it happens only in one
document or in documents based on a particular template.
[Note that all documents in WordPerfect are
initially based on a template (which has a .wpt filename extension).
For everyday work this is typically the default
template, but it could be a custom template.]
When something like this happens,
it is normal to assume something has gone wrong with the WordPerfect
program. [This is, of course, possible; see "Repairing 'bad' or damaged WordPerfect
program files" for more.] But it is more
likely due to a damaged (corrupted) document or template file.
So before you decide it's time to reinstall
WordPerfect -- usually
the last thing to try -- please read on. To be
sure, there's a lot here, but the time spent on it could save you more
time and frustration in the future.
And as a wise
person once said: Half
the solution to a problem is defining it accurately. The
following sections should help you do that.
A basic but important concept:
There are hidden elements in documents and templates.
WordPerfect
documents and templates are not like pieces of paper that serve to hold
only words or pictures on them, like pages in a magazine. In fact, they
are digital structures that contain hidden,
behind-the-scenes information in their prefixes,
such as the current printer selection, style data, formatting, and many
other document-specific settings.
It is here, in
these hidden areas, that things can sometimes go wrong, ranging from a
document that might still open but sometimes show some strange
or erratic behavior or formatting, to a document that displays
one or more of the major symptoms listed above, such as a freeze.
WordPerfect
documents (.wpd, .wcm) and templates (.wpt) can become damaged for
several reasons. Here are the most common ones:
- Improper shut-down
of WordPerfect -- e.g., turning the computer off before closing
WordPerfect; power surge/dropout; a forced reboot while working on a
document; etc.
- Assembling many
files or file fragments into one document.
- Lots of
copy-and-paste or cut-and-paste operations on the same document --
especially involving format codes, graphics, etc. (N.B.: If you need
to re-use the same document as a "template," why not turn it into
a custom template
and reduce or eliminate such problems?)
- Corrupt "objects"
that were imported or inserted into the document, such as
graphic images (especially very large ones), tables, custom styles, etc.
- A conflict with
another program in memory, especially if it causes a forced reboot.
- [Less common but
worth considering:] Problems with the computer disk -- e.g.,
cross-linked files, damage to the disk surface, disk writes
failing to complete due to write-caching,
etc.
II.
Some logical questions to ask yourself (a troubleshooting
path to help isolate the problem)
 Does the program simply lock up
or freeze when you try to open WordPerfect?
It could be a
corrupted default template. This important file, which stores some user settings, generally is not replaced if you reinstall WordPerfect since it is a user file. Hence, if the file is damaged it can still cause problems. See "Fixing
the default template" below.
It could also be
due to a printer problem,
especially if WordPerfect is slow to load, rather than refusing to load
at all. See here for
some solutions.
Similarly, it could
be a network
issue if WordPerfect needs to access the network but it is not
available to the user's computer (sometimes it can take several minutes
for the computer to access the network).
It
could also be a problem with a corrupt document (see
the following
paragraphs) or inaccessible document that the program is trying to access when you have
enabled the Save Workspace
option.
Or it could be a
corrupt Windows user profile,
which stores various user-specific settings -- including
WordPerfect program settings. (More on this topic can be found in the
sections below.)
See "Miscellaneous
problems...." below for other issues such as when using the
automatic backup feature, getting various error messages, dealing with corrupt WordPerfect tables, et al.
However,
please read the rest of this section -- which lists more common causes
-- before assuming it is your printer, network, or
some other less common cause.
Assuming you can open
WordPerfect, some of the most common problems involve damaged ("corrupt")
documents and/or templates. Could the document or template
be corrupt?
Be aware that many
documents can still be opened and templates can still function if they
are not extensively damaged. This might be one reason some people
immediately conclude that the program is at fault (which is, of course,
possible).
When problems suddenly
appear, try to stop
what you are doing and think about what
is going on at the moment, and also think about the time immediately
preceding the problem's appearance (e.g., did you shut down the
computer without closing program?). Sometimes this can be a valuable
clue to the cause, especially if you can determine a pattern to the
surrounding events.
Then ask:
Does the problem happen with a
particlar existing document you opened from your disk that you are now
editing or attempting to save, but not with another
existing document on disk?
If
so, it could be a problem with just that particular document file --
especially if you have done a lot of editing, pasting, or importing
during the session. See "Some methods..." below to fix the
document.
But first ask: Could it
simply be a formatting problem? This is easy to overlook -- although technically speaking this is not
the "damage" we mean here. Format codes are always present in a document. The initial code at the very top of the document (seen in Reveal Codes) handles some default formatting. Even when you just press <Enter> you insert a format code! These
codes are a very useful thing, and it's helpful to know at
least a little bit about them. (Just keeping Reveal Codes open once in
a while can impart knowledge on how they work.) In fact some formatting
issues that cause intractable problems in other programs are often
solved quite easily in WordPerfect's Reveal Codes window. However, sometimes format codes
can make a document appear
damaged because the formatting is not what you wanted or expected. (This probably is a more common cause of user problems than the other things on this page.) This can happen for several reasons. For example: - Strange
codes that were carried into the document when pasting into it. (This
is especially true if the source is another program or the Internet.
The program does its best to interpret the new codes, but sometimes it
cannot.)
- Format codes that the program
places in the document by design during a previous formatting
operation, such as those that force certain formatting when needed.
- Misplaced or missing codes that result from manipulating the document's content.
- Incompatible or contradictory format codes (at least, for the current purpose) that can "confuse" the program.
If the problem
suddenly appears when you open a document, or while you are editing it
or trying to print or fax it -- and it appears in the form of changes
to formatting, especially if the changes are restricted to
one document -- then the validity -- or the placement -- of formatting codes
might be the first thing to check. Tips You can pass your cursor slowly over
these codes in Reveal Codes (View, Reveal Codes) and you should see information about each
code appear in a floating tip. Look at the same loction in the main document pane above
Reveal Codes and see if the problem coincides with a particular code
(or codes). For some more tips on using Reveal Codes see here. [Note: Some format problems become more obvious if you compare the problem location's formatting in Reveal Codes
with another similar (but properly working) location in the document
(or a new blank document into which you type some text and format it
the same as in the problem location).] Also, double-click
on the [Open Style] code at the very top of the document to
open the Styles Editor and examine all format codes inside
the initial document style code. The document will "inherit" any
formatting that is found inside this special code, as explained here. It can also
contain formatting codes that were inserted during document creation or
editing with the intention of using them as a document default. And
if you got the document from someone else, some formatting might not
apply to your system. Sometimes
manual (or even some automatic) formatting causes the program to insert
a [Delay] code in the document -- usually to delay the onset of certain
formatting. (To manually insert a [Delay] code, use Format,
Page,
Delay Codes.) These codes act like little containers for other format
codes, and as such they can hide the codes -- even from search attempts!
-- that might be causing
the problem. You can double-click on the [Delay] code to view what is
inside it.
[N.B.:
Delay codes are actually made up of two codes: the first [Delay] code
tells WordPerfect what to do; the second [Delay Codes] code appears on
the (delayed) page and tells WordPerfect to start doing it.
Double-click the first code of the pair to open the Define Delay Codes
window. Make sure Reveal Codes is open so you can see what is inside
the [Delay] code.]
If you have
eliminated -- or reduced the possibility of -- formatting issues causing
the problem, see "Some methods..." below
to try and fix any potential document damage. But read
the rest of this "...logical questions to ask..." section foirst.
Notes
about other "formatting problems"
- Check to see if the
printout of the document is OK. If so --
and what you see on screen is not OK -- you might have a video display problem such as a problem with the video
driver (i.e., the software that helps operate the display) or a problem with the video card hardware (video
memory chip, etc.).
- Check to see if the
font is still available for the
document in question. Note that some fonts are built into printers ("hardware fonts"), so
if they are not available WordPerfect will substitute what it thinks is
an appropriate font. This and other "spontaneous" reformat issues are
described here.
- Similarly, a bad or
outdated printer driver can cause problems with
rendering fonts on your screen as well as on paper. See this page for some printer
driver problems and solutions. People often first notice these font
changes when opening an old document (created on an old printer) or one
sent to them by a colleague with a different printer, but they can
happen if the printer driver is damaged or otherwise impacted.
- If you have done
some copying and pasting from other documents or
programs (or from an Intenet or email source), you might get some odd
formatting codes carried into the current document. You might benefit
form using Edit, Paste Special, Unformated text when pasting the
material. (See this page
for more information about using this feature.) Note that copying and
pasting over and over in the same document can lead to unexpected
formatting problems, and even lead to internal document corruption. If such damage might have occured the methods
below should help you fix it.
- If you notice that
a document's status (at the top of the WordPerfect
window) changes from "(unmodified)" or you get a "Save
changes..." message when closing the document or when exiting
WordPerfect -- and you believe you have not made any changes to that
document -- this might not indicate document or template corruption.
Rather, it might be due to other, working-as-designed, "document reformat" causes which are
detailed here.
Does
the problem happen with a new
blank document (i.e., one opened with File, New) -- especially
one into which you have typed
(not pasted or inserted) some new material?
It could be a
problem with the template
on which the new document is based; usually, this is the default template (for custom templates,
see below).
You could try
opening another new blank document and type some text into it to see if
the same problem appears. If so, you might need to fix the template
itself, especially if the next section ("Assuming it happens...") is
true.
Important:
Generally, you should type
the new text into the new blank document. Copying and pasting material,
or inserting material (e.g., with Insert, File), from another
WordPerfect document might simply introduce the problem (or some other
potential problems) into the new document, and not help you isolate the
cause of the current problem. The idea is to use plain (unformatted)
text in the new document.
Tip: To easily enter some unformatted "dummy" text
into a document to fill up a paragraph or page (or more) see "What
is Lorem Ipsum?" here: http://www.lipsum.com/.
Have that site generate a dozen paragraphs or so, and then select them
and copy them (Ctrl+C) into WordPerfect as unformatted text
with Edit, Paste Special, Unformatted text.
Assuming it happens with one new blank document
... Does the problem happen with more than one new,
blank documents (opened with File, New) --
especially one into which you have typed
(not pasted or inserted) some material -- but not in other existing
documents?
If so, it is likely
to be a problem with the default
template, which is used to create Document1,
Document2, etc., that you see on screen when you first open
WordPerfect (or when you click File, New). See the section, "Fixing the
default template," below.
Does the problem happen with more
than one new document based on a custom template that you have created?
If so, it could be
a problem with that particular custom template. See "Some methods..." below.
What else can you do? See the
"Miscellaneous problems, error messages, etc.," section below.
[Back to Contents]
III. Some methods and tools to fix damaged
documents or custom templates
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IMPORTANT
- Be
sure you have read and understand the material in sections I
and II above.
- Be
sure to make a backup of the problem document
or custom template. (If
you are having problems with the default
template,
see Fixing the default template
below for information on locating and backing up this critical file.)
- Sometimes
one method works to fix a particular file, and another method does not.
Try
the following Primary methods first. Work slowly and
carefully. Methods
#2 and #3 (X-Retrieve and WPLOOK) are likely to succeed for the
majority of document problems.
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Primary
methods and tools
 The
three primary methods
(A, B, and C) in this section should be the first things
to try, preferably
in the order shown. They will fix
many - but not all - problems in a WordPerfect
document (*.wpd) or custom template (*.wpt).
See also Section I and Section II above for a
troubleshooting "path" and some other things to try.
For problems
with the default template, see the next section below.
- Method A: Restore
from a previously backed up document.
This may seem
obvious, but under a deadline or panic situation it can be easy to
forget a backup of the document exists.
If
you found a backup of the document that does not show the problem, you
might still want to try and repair the problem document using
the methods below.
Tip:
if you want to automate making backups of future WordPerfect documents,
see here.
- Method B: Use the
simple "X-Retrieve" method.
Also known as "X-Insert," it is often effective since it rebuilds the internal
prefix for
the document. Here's how to do it:
- Step 1. Close the problem file if it is open. Open a
new, blank document (i.e., File, New).
- Step 2. Type
an "x" (actually, any character) in the new document.
- Step 3. Insert
the problem file from your disk with Insert, File.
- Important:
Don't use copy-and-paste to insert the contents of the problem file.
Instead, use Insert, File to insert the file directly from your disk.
- Step 4. Delete
the "x".
- Step 5. Save
the new file (File, Save) and give it a different name from the problem
document.
- Step 6. Test
the document. If the problem still exists, try Method C below.
Tip: Even if this method seems to fix the
problem, you should seriously consider using the
free (and easy to use) Corel WPLOOK file repair
program below on the
document. The x-retrieve method often fixes some problems, but it will
not always remove all internal file corruption, which WPLOOK might
remove -- and prevent from impacting the document going forward.
Related tip: Using WPLOOK first to repair
corruption, then foregoing using x-retrieve, might not fix things. Use
both, in the recommended sequence of x-retrieve first, then WPLOOK
second.
Note: Macros that
make use of the X-Retrieve method are UPDATER in the
Library and Charles Rossiter's CLEANSAVE and
NEWSAVE.
- Method C: Repair
the file.
Corel's
(free) file repair utility:
This is done quickly and easily using Corel's file repair
utility, WPLOOK.EXE. Note that
WPLOOK.EXE does not have to be installed since it is a
stand-alone program -- but you should use it in the recommended manner below. See "Starting
it" or see "How
to use it".
Compatibility:
WPLOOK.EXE
will work with WordPerfect documents and templates created in WordPerfect
for Windows 6.x and later versions. It will work
in all versions of Windows.
Getting it:
- You might already have it.
In WordPerfect X5/X6 (and presumably later versions) the single file WpLook.exe
should be in the installation's Programs folder on your computer. You
can run it from there or, better yet, create a shortcut to it and drag
the shortcut onto your Windows desktop.
- Note: If you cannot
find the file in Windows Explorer, perhaps Windows is set to hide some
program files. See the procedure here (which is
similar).
- Tip: On a Windows 7
system you should find the WpLook.exe file in C:\Program Files
(x86)\Corel\WordPerfect Office <version>\Programs
- If you don't have it on your
computer it might be included on your installation CD #2,
where you can just copy it to any convenient folder or to your Windows
desktop.
- If you don't have it at all,
you can get it from Corel by downloading it directly from the Corel FTP
site here.
[When you left-click on that file (wplook.exe) on the Corel site to
choose it, a dialog should appear that asks "Would you like to save
this file?" Obviously, answer 'Yes'. It then can be downloaded to any
convenient directory/folder, or to your Windows desktop. It
does not need to be installed since it is a single standalone file.]
Starting
it:
To run it, just double-click on the WpLook filename
on your desktop or use My Computer (or just Computer) or Windows
Explorer to launch it from the folder where it is located. [Screen shot of WPLOOK]
Before you do this, read "How to use it" below.
A small caveat:
WPLOOK attempts to
fix corruption in a file's internal prefix,
which stores a lot of information about the document, current user
settings, printer, etc.
However, it might
not clean up corruption in tables, imported
styles, or images.
Hence:
Tables can often be fixed with the /recover
start up switch, discussed in this
thread at WordPerfect Universe and (briefly, along with other
startup switches) on this WPToolbox
page.
Imported styles and graphic images can be deleted
and re-imported into a "good" document.
How to use it:
- Step 1.
The
first thing to do is read - or at least skim over - Laura Acklen's
brief but excellent article, Using
WPLOOK. Then -
- Step 2.
Close
the problem document if it is open.
- Back
it up? Note that in
the next steps WPLOOK will offer to save the file it is working on with
a different name (i.e., back it up) if you answer No to a
"Save As" message asking you if you want to replace the
existing file. If you answer No the "saved as" version will be
the one WPLOOK works on when you Repair it in the steps below. If you
answer Yes then WPLOOK will simply replace (over-write) the
original file when you Repair it. If you have no other back up of the
original file it might be a good idea to answer No and work on
the renamed file instead of the original. Then you can load this file
in WordPerfect and test it.
- Step 3.
Run
WPLOOK by double-clicking its filename (WpLook.exe) on your desktop or
use My Computer or Windows Explorer to launch it. [The following
information is also found on this screen
shot, which includes basic instructions.]
- When WPLOOK
loads you will see three checkboxes on the main WPLOOK screen, under
"Repair":
- Repair
Corruption;
- Remove
UNDO information; and
- Remove
Unused Styles.
- At the very
least, be sure to enable the checkbox to Repair Corruption.
- Unless you
have a specific reason why you need to retain Undo information or
Unused styles, enable these two Repair options, too. The former might
be a cause of the corruption, and the latter will be removed only from
the current document anyway (thus making the file slightly smaller,
too). Many if not most users will enable all three checkboxes on the
WPLOOK dialog's Repair Document tab, even if they are only trying to
fix a damaged file.
- Step 4.
- With WPLOOK
on screen, click File, Open on the WPLOOK menu to load your problem
file into WPLOOK.
- IMPORTANT:
When
the file is loaded into WPLOOK, click the Repair button on the WPLOOK
dialog at least 3 or 4 times -- even if no corruption
is found or even if several "Repairing corruption" messages are
displayed.
Just answer "Yes" each time to the "Replace...?" question appears.
It is thought that using Repair multiple times is more effective than
using it just once -- perhaps to clean out any dependencies between
corrupted items.
Note:
After the first press of the Repair button, WPLOOK doesn't tell you if
it found any more corruption -- in fact, it probably will
simply
report "No Corruption Found" with each subsequent press of Repair.
Ignore the messages. Just click Repair several times as discussed above.
- Step 5. (Optional, but suggested by some power users:) After using WPLOOK, you can use Method B above on the file to add some assurance that the problem has been resolved. This should only take a few extra seconds.
- Tips on using WPLOOK
- If the repairs above do not work, you can click Edit on the WPLOOK menu and extract all text from the document,
then save the content to a .TXT file.
- See WPLOOK's
Edit menu for an option to "scramble" a file's text: all characters are
turned into Z's, but the formatting remains the same. [For very long
documents, be sure to verify that all text was scrambled.] This can be
helpful when sending a confidential file to someone who might be able
to help with
formatting problems. (If you don't have a backup of the file, be sure
to save the Output file with a different
name.)
Secondary
methods and tools
These items do not need to be
tried in any particular order. Read through them to see which might
appear useful to you.
- Save without Metadata: In
some cases where X-Insert or WPLOOK will not recover the document,
saving without metadata (a choice available in versions WPOX3 and
later, on the File menu) will recover it without loss of formatting.
- "Divide and conquer": Working on a backup copy of the problem document, remove one-half of
it (e.g., delete the second half of the document). If the problem
disappears, it was likely in that section. You can then open a fresh
copy of the backup, and remove the last quarter of it. Repeat, removing
successively smaller sections until you isolate the problematic section.
- Alternative: Paste
successive sections of the "bad" document into a new, blank document,
saving the new document after each paste, until you see the problem
reappear. (See also the next item, "Remove formatting.")
- Alternative:
Use a macro to determine the line in the document
where corruption occurs. Here's
one posted by Kenneth Hobson at WordPerfect Universe (scroll
down in that thread for a downloadable version).
- Remove formatting: Some
users have found that copying the entire document (Ctrl+c) to the
Windows clipboard, then pasting the copied material into a new blank
document with Edit, Paste
Special, Unformatted text does the job of repairing the
document. However, as the name implies, this will remove all
formatting, producing a "plain text" document -- but this is better
than losing the document to corruption.
- Related tip: After
pasting as unformatted text into a new blank document you
can copy/paste the document into Windows WordPad or Notepad, and
then save it to disc
as a separate text (.TXT) file as added insurance.
- Alternative: As noted in the WPLOOK section above, you can also click Edit on the WPLOOK menu and extract all text from the document,
then save the content to a .TXT file.
- Use QuattroPro: For badly damaged documents, you can try opening
the document in QuattroPro. (Open QuattroPro, click File, Open and change the
file type to All Files, then select the WordPerfect document and open
it. Copy the cells with data and paste the data into a new blank
document.) Graphics and formatting will be lost, but the text may
survive, so it's worth a try.
- File viewers: If you have a file viewer such as QuickView, you
might be able to copy text from the viewed file and paste it into a new
document. From a Corel support site article (#755359):
- "1. If you
have WordPerfect 6,7,8,9,10, for Windows, copy the contents from the
Viewer. To do this:
- 2. Start from
a blank document screen and choose File | Open, click View | Preview |
No Preview, then click ONCE on the document in the left window.
- 3. Right click
in the preview window, select content, left click with the mouse in
preview window, hold and drag through document until highlighted,
- 4. Right click
in the preview window and copy, click close for file open window.
- 5. In a blank
document, click Edit | Paste and the document will be placed in the
current screen. Save the file with new name."
- Drivers: Some problems with documents can be traced to the
computer's video card drivers or printer drivers.
You could try visiting the web sites for your video card and/or printer
manufacturer to see if updated drivers are available. (This is
especially a good idea if you have upgraded your computer to Windows 7
and your printer was manufactured before that operating system became
available.)
- Printers: Since WordPerfect is a true WYSIWYG ("What you
see is what you get") program, it makes heavy use of your system's
graphics capabilities and especially the printer driver
installed. In fact, if you do not have at least one printer driver
installed you might find that WordPerfect hangs when you try to load it!
- From Corel's Knowledgebase
article #3496 (with some added formatting and editorial comments):
- "If
more then one printer is present on the system, try setting
another printer as [your computer's] default.
- [You
can do this in your Windows Control Panel: Look for Printers and Faxes
in Windows XP, or just Printers in Windows Vista/7. Right-click the
icon for the new default printer, and choose Set as Default. Then, in
WordPerfect, you can turn on (i.e., enable) "Reformat documents for the
WordPerfect default printer on open" in Tools, Files, Environment to
force WordPerfect to use the new default when you open the problem (or
any) document. Or, you can just open the problem document and choose
the new printer in File, Print. If it cures the problem, you have
evidence that the original printer driver is bad or damaged. To remove
and reinstall a printer driver, see here.]
- If
you have multiple printers installed, you may be required to remove all the printers
[and printer drivers: see here]
one at a time from your Control Panel and try launching WordPerfect
after the removal of each.
- Note:
Sometimes [other installed] printer drivers will send WordPerfect
information it doesn't understand, causing issues, perhaps even
crashes. To eliminate this possibility, try removing your installed
printers. If this is the problem, installing updated/alternate drivers
may fix the problem. [As noted above] changing your default printer to
another device could also help. [-Thanks to Pascal Coutoure, Senior
Quality Assurance, Corel, for this tip.]
- If
no physical printer is available [or if you want to
troubleshoot with a different "known good" printer driver], add a generic printer to the Control Panel. A
good printer to select from the list is any model of Apple LaserWriter."
- [Note:
Set the port to File to test it, since no physical printer is
installed; or just skip the "print test page" step. Then, in
WordPerfect, (1) turn off (i.e., disable) "Reformat
documents for the WordPerfect default printer on open" in Tools, Files,
Environment to ensure that WordPerfect won't automatically use the
default printer (if different); then (2) open the problem document and
choose the new printer in File, Print. If it cures the problem, you
have evidence that the original driver is bad or damaged. To remove and
reinstall a printer driver, see here.]
- As noted, some
problems that appear to be problems with documents or templates might
be caused by a bad or damaged printer driver. To
remove and reinstall a printer driver, see here.
- For some
possible printing problems, see here.
- Proofreading tools: If WordPerfect freezes or slows, sometimes this
works: Click Tools, Proofread, Off. Also un-check (disable)
Prompt-As-You-Go.
- Reload/reboot: Try exiting WordPerfect and reloading it -- or
even rebooting Windows. This sometimes cures the problem.
- See "Miscellaneous problems, error messages" below.
- Finally, if you
conclude that it might be a WordPerfect program problem, see here.
|
IV. Fixing
the default template
It's not only your new or existing documents (.WPD) which can
become corrupted: Template files (.WPT)
can suffer damage, too.
This includes the WordPerfect
default template, the
file on which all your new, blank documents are
based, and
which transmits certain user settings and formatting -- even some possibly
corrupted elements! -- "downstream" to them as they are created.
While corruption
in the default template is not as common as corruption
in normal documents,
it happens sometimes.
If newly created documents -- those based on the default template -- are
giving you problems, try the following 3-step method to repair the
default template.
- Step 1.
Find out where WordPerfect "sees" the default
template on your hard drive.
- Open WordPerfect
and click on Tools, Settings, Files, template (tab).
Take note of the contents in the two fields there:
"Default template folder," and "Default template".
Jot
down the path to the file (first field), and the name of the file
(second field; you may need to scroll to the end of the field to see
it).
Be
aware that WordPerfect always looks for,
and uses, the default template that is specified in these
fields. This file is the currently
active default template:
there can be other files with the same name elsewhere on your computer,
placed there during installation of the program. (These are not
the currently active default template, so they can be ignored.)
- Note that the name of the default template varies
with the version of WordPerfect.
For example, if you have WordPerfect 12 it will be
named WP12XX.WPT; if you have WordPerfect X3 it will be named
WP13XX.WPT; and so on.
Here, "XX" is your language version -- such
as "US" -- so in this case your template would be
named WP12US.WPT, or WP13US.WPT, or similar pattern.
Note
also that default templates are version-specific, and should not be
renamed so they can be used with other WordPerfect versions. You can
migrate the customizations in them, as described here.
- Step 2.
Close WordPerfect.
Navigate to the default template file
using Windows Explorer (or My Computer or other file manager).
Rename the file you located in Step 1 to make a backup of it and temporarily
hide it from WordPerfect. Here's the best way to
rename it:
- For example: If you
use the US version of WordPerfect X5 (i.e., version number 15), rename
the default template WP15US.WPT to WP15USBACKUP.WPT,
etc. [It is best to retain the .WPT filename extension, so just add
something to the filename itself.]
The idea here is to force WordPerfect -- when it next loads (Step 3
below) -- to create a new, virgin default template (in our example, it
also will be named WP15US.WPT) when it cannot find a legitimate default
template for your WordPerfect version.
This happens because the renamed file is temporarily hidden from the
WordPerfect program. In such a circumstance, a new one is
automatically created. (A default template is always required
for program operation.)
- Notes and tips
- This file
contains many of your customizations and settings, which can be
recovered later, if desired. (See Step 3.)
- See "The
default template" for more information about this
important file -- especially if you
can't seem to find it.
For
example, the default Windows setup "hides" certain files from view in
Windows Explorer and (My) Computer.
- See also Footnote 3 for
an easy, copy-and-paste way to locate the currently active default
template using Windows Explorer so that you can rename it.
- Step 3.
Re-launch WordPerfect and
a new, "factory fresh" default template file will be created
automatically.
- Does that help? (See also the
information on using a new blank document to test the new template above.)
- If so,
your customizations (toolbars,
etc.) can be copied from the backup template to the new default
template.
- See
Corel's support database Article
3495, "How do I migrate or copy items, such as Toolbars,
Menus, and Keyboards, from an older version of WordPerfect® to my
latest version?" (versions 9-X5+). Even though the article focuses on
migrating the default template from an earlier version, you can use the
same procedure to "migrate" from your backed up version of the default
template file (Step 2 above) to the new factory fresh version.
- Alternatively,
see this
post ("Saving and Recovering Customizations") on WordPerfect
Universe. (It also discusses recovering custom styles
from the backed up template.)
- If it didn't help -
- You can rename the backup back to
its original name. Then you could -
- Follow
the steps recommended by Corel article
3559 on their Knowledgebase
site:"WordPerfect freezes or generates errors while
opening"(a damaged printer driver can also cause this issue. See here).
- Note
that these steps cover local workstations (not networked systems; see
"Networks" below).
- It
might be a good idea to clean out any temporary files from
the Windows Temp folders, then reboot your computer, before trying the
following steps (the free and well-regarded program, CCleaner,
is useful here.)
- Then -
- If
you haven't already done it, apply the latest Service Pack for
your version of WordPerfect.(See Corel's site under "Support" and
"Patches and Updates".) Relaunch WordPerfect and test.
- You
can try restoring the program to the factory defaults to
see if the installation was damaged or a modification to the program is
the problem. See Corel's article
3461 on their Knowledgebase
site, "How do I restore WordPerfect to its factory defaults?"
Restart your computer and relaunch WordPerfect and test.
- Login
to your computer using a new Windows
User Profile. Why?
Some WordPerfect settings are stored in the user's Registry and in
various user-specific files. Sometimes the Profile becomes corrupt (or
becomes affected by some other non-Corel program's setting) and
it can impact WordPerfect. Relaunch WordPerfect and test.
- Here's
some information about how to create a new Windows User Profile and
(optionally) copy files from the old Profile to the new one: If you use
Windows
7, see this
page on the Microsoft site. For Windows Vista, see this
page on the Microsoft site. If you are using Windows XP or earlier,
search the Microsoft site for information relevant to those Windows
versions.
- To
see if some other program
might be interfering with WordPerfect, you could temporarily disable
the Windows Startup items using MSCONFIG, then restart your computer.
(See the Microsoft site or a good third-party Windows book for help.)
Relaunch WordPerfect and test.
- Visit
one of Corel's newsgroups or WordPerfect
Universe's Troubleshooting Forum for more help.
- Try
the WPLOOK repair utility listed above. This author has found
occasional template corruption that could be quickly fixed with WPLOOK.
|
V. Miscellaneous
problems, error messages, etc.
|
This is not
a comprehensive list of possible specific problems and/or error
messages.
[The following list might grow in the future.]
- Tables. If you suspect that you are having problems with
WordPerfect tables, you can force WordPerfect to fix them when you
start WordPerfect with a "Startup switch". Use the online Help
<F1> and search the Index for "startup switch" (or see here). There, you will find
information on using the /recover startup switch,
which "Rebuilds table information in the prefix of the document upon
retrieval."
- Do you
use WordPerfect's automatic backup features? See here
for suggested time interval settings and recovery-of-work techniques.
(A setting that is too short on a busy computer can corrupt some large
files, or possibly give you a "spinning hourglass" on screen while
WordPerfect continuously tries to save your work, stopping you from
doing anything else with the program.)
- Do you use the Save
Workspace option on the Tools, Settings, Environment,
Interface tab? When
you try to start WordPerfect and you see the cursor hourglass (or
rotating wheel in recent Windows versions) ... and then nothing happens
... here's one possible cause: Users have reported that when they enable
the "Save workspace" radio button in Tools,
Settings, Environment, Interface, and
they were working on a possibly corrupted document (or one that is now inaccessible) when they last used
WordPerfect, they get the "hourglass-and-fail" problem.
- Note:
- If you
have included a program shortcut in your Windows Startup group (so that
WordPerfect automatically loads whenever you start your computer), you
might experience a WordPerfect freeze for the same reasons: the Save
Workspace option was enabled and the last opened document was corrupted or inaccessible.
- Solutions:
- If you
think you already have the problem and can't open WordPerfect, and you
are comfortable with editing your Windows Registry (back it up first!),
you can adjust an entry to force WordPerfect's setting to "Never". See this
thread at WordPerfect Universe.
- Alternative: Try this solution from one WordPerfect Universe
user ("howell"), which does not involve the Registry: Exit from
WordPerfect and use Windows Explorer or My Computer to rename the
(potentially) corrupt document -- or even the folder containing it (you
can rename it back to the original later). Then reload WordPerfect. It
may still pop an error message, but it should open. You can then try to
repair the corrupted document, as explained above.
- Prevention:
- Set "Save
workspace" to "Never" to prevent such problems.
- If you are getting a "low memory" error message when you start
WordPerfect, see Corel's support database, "3521
- Why do I get a 'Low Memory' error when I start WordPerfect?"
at http://corel.force.com/index.
- The
Windows User Profile can become corrupted. The Windows user profile is basically
a section of the Windows registry on your computer -- a database of
user-specific settings -- along with a set of folders that are stored
in a per-user directory on your disk. (For more see Footnote
2)
If the user profile becomes corrupted it can
cause WordPerfect to freeze, crash, or generate errors while
loading the program. See Corel's support
database, "3559
- WordPerfect freezes or generates errors while opening," at
http://corel.force.com/index
which discusses possible factors (some of which are addressed above)
including a corrupt Windows user profile, interference from other
startup items, etc.
- Here's some
information about how to create a new Windows user profile and copy
files from the old profile to the new one: If you use Windows 7, see this
page on the Microsoft site. For Windows Vista, see this
page on the Microsoft site. If you are using Windows XP or
earlier, search the Microsoft site for information relevant to those
Windows versions.
- To see if some
other program might be interfering with WordPerfect, you could
temporarily disable the Windows Startup items using MSCONFIG, then
restart your computer. (See the Microsoft site or a good third-party
Windows book for help.) Relaunch WordPerfect and test.
- Networks.
Some problems with slow program opening, loading documents,
or delays followed by immediate program termination ("crash")
can
be traced to WordPerfect having been installed on a network. For
example, if you cannot open a file or save it and you are using a
laptop that is not currently connected to a
network, check
to make sure your default document folder is available in Tools,
Settings, Files. It might be set to a network folder which is not
available. Some users create different Windows User Profiles to use
when they are, or are not, connected to their network and its printer.
(See also information about the Additional Objects
template, which some organizations place on a network server.)
- "Error while reading from prefix:
you may not have sufficient memory"
- From Corel's
(old) support database (http://support.corel.com):
Answer ID 758802 - When creating table of contents, indexes or using
any other component within Corel's reference tools the following
message is produced: "Error while reading from prefix: you may not have
sufficient memory".
- This issue is
typically caused by a specific type of document corruption and can be
repaired by taking the damaged file and saving it under the WordPefect®
v5.1/5.2 file format. Once this is done the file can be re-saved using
the current WordPerfect file format. To do this, follow the steps below:
- Open the
damaged file in WordPerfect
Go up to File and select Save As.
In the Save As dialog box select 'WordPerfect 5.1/5.2' and click Save.
Close any open documents.
Go up to File and select Open.
Ensure the file type is set to 'All Files (*.*)'.
Click on the document and click Open
Go up to File and select Save As. Set the file type back to WordPerfect
6/7/8/9.. etc.
Save the document.
Once this procedure has been completed it should be possible to run the
reference tool. If problems persist try scanning the document using
WPLOOK.
- ''The
Macro is Being Canceled Due to an Out of Range Token Completion Code.
..."
- Possible
cause: The macro has been given commands that it cannot complete or
which confuse it, such as trying to find a QuickMark that doesn't exist.
- Disappearing
WordPerfect icon on the taskbar.
- This is often
a sign of a corrupt default template. See here
for solutions.
- Other
places for help: You can always
post a question on a Corel newsgroup or on WordPerfect Universe. See here
for some help tips.
|
VI. When you have tried everything else on this page: Repairing the program ... printer and fax problems ... etc.
VII. Preventing
document corruption and damage
|
This is not
a comprehensive list of possible techniques or remedies, and none are
guaranteed to prevent document corruption/damage 100 percent of the
time. They represent "conventional wisdom" about how to prevent, or at
least minimize, such problems. (See Disclaimer.)
The following is a
list that might grow in the future.
- Always
close WordPerfect normally before turning off your computer.
- Don't simply
shut off your computer while WordPerfect is still loaded. Doing so
appears to be a common cause of file corruption in WordPerfect (and
perhaps other software programs). Moreover, you cannot depend on
WordPerfect saving all your word or recent edits. See "Automatically
make back ups of your document to help you recover your work" here.
- Avoid
reusing the same document, over and over, as a "template."
- Constantly deleting, copying, pasting, inserting,
etc., can eventually lead to a corrupt document. It is better to create
a template (a file with a .WPT filename extension) which will "spawn"
fresh, uncorrupted copies as needed. The template can be nothing more
fancy than a document with a logo, or it can be an automated template
that asks for information, inserts it in various places, etc. See Custom templates on
the Default template
page for more information.
- Avoid using write-caching on
your hard drive(s).
- A tip from Roy
("lemoto") Lewis, Corel C_Tech:
- "Ensure
write-caching (also known as "write-behind" or "write-back" caching) is
disabled. Read-caching is a good scheme, with no downside.
Write-caching runs the risk that some glitch will prevent the actual
write to disk. With slower drives and systems, there was something to
be said for it. Nowadays the chances of Windows failing are smaller,
but the systems are so fast that there is no significant upside to the
feature, so the small chance of error is still worth avoiding."
- To disable
write-caching:
- Windows
98SE: Click Control
Panel, System, Performance, File System, Troubleshooting. Enable the
checkbox, "Disable write-behind caching."
- Windows
XP/2000: You may
need Administrator rights to do the following:
- Open
Explorer or My Computer, then right-click the partition (or drive icon,
if the drive is not partitioned) where WordPerfect files are located,
then choose Properties, Hardware Tab. Choose a drive name from the
list, then -
- In Windows
XP, click Properties, then click the Policies tab;
- In Windows
2000, click the Disk Properties tab;
- then uncheck
the box, "Enable write caching on the disk" (or similar wording).
- Repeat
for other hard drives, if desired.
- Windows
Vista: You need
Administrator rights to do the following:
- Open
Explorer or Computer, then right-click the partition or drive where
WordPerfect files are located, then choose the Hardware Tab. Choose a
drive name from the list, then click the Properties button, then the
General tab. Click the Change Settings button, then click the Policies
tab on the next dialog. On that tab you will see two radio buttons.
Notice that under the second one, "Optimize for performance," are two
check boxes: "Enable write caching on the disk," and "Enable advanced
performance."
- To
disable write caching, uncheck the first box, "Enable write caching on
the disk." The second box should also be unchecked. Click OK.
- Repeat
for other hard drives, if desired.
- NOTE:
If you have a laptop with a working (and charged) battery in it, or a
desktop system with a battery back up device (sometimes called a
"UPS"), you might prefer to check (i.e., enable) both boxes instead of
disabling write caching. The battery backup should allow time for the
system to write cached data to disk.
- Windows
7: You need
Administrator rights to do the following:
- Click
the Start orb on the Windows desktop, then follow this path:
- Control
Panel, System and Security, System, Device Manager, then choose Disk
Drives. Right-click on the drive, then click Properties.
- On the
dialog that opens, choose the Policies tab, and disable (un-tick)
"Enable write caching on the device."
- Click
OK.
- For the
technical side of this issue, see "Notes
on write-caching" in a post on WordPerfect Universe.
- Make
frequent sequential backups of important work --
preferably to another drive in case the drive crashes.
- Have several
intermediate copies ("iterations") of a document might allow
you to recover material from an uncorrupted earlier version of the file.
- It has the added
benefit of preserving earlier material which might be useful later on.
- This might be
especially useful if you need to do a lot of copy-and-paste within or
between documents, or you are importing material or graphic images from
another source.
- See "MULTISAV -
Macros to help automate saving documents" here.
- Don't set
WordPerfect's automatic timed backup feature to
less than 4 or 5 minutes,
especially if you work on long documents, which can take some time to
save a document. See here
for more on the timed backup feature.
- Keep WordPerfect up to date.
Like most software publishers, Corel occasionally issues "patches"
(Corel calls them "Service Packs") to correct bugs it feels warrant
correction. (You may disagree on what "warrants" a correction.) While
some early versions of WordPerfect were released with some serious bugs
(and later corrected), recent versions are far more resistant to such
things. But in any case the nature of software is that some bugs are
inevitable -- especially since software can be affected by
external changes in Windows, printer drivers, resident programs, etc.,
etc. Use WordPerfect's Help,
Check for Updates to get and apply Service Packs. [Earlier
Service Packs, up to WordPerfect 12, might still be available for
direct download here.]
- Some
people feel that "if it isn't broken, don't fix it." It's your choice,
of course, but this author has always applied SPs as soon as they were
available. Also, sometimes minor bug fixes are included in the newest
WordPerfect version but the immediately previous version might no
longer have Service Packs issued to correct the same bugs. It's largely
a matter of how much time and effort a company can devote to supporting
older -- and no longer profitable -- versions of a program.
- It's always a
good idea to back up your data -- and read the Release Notes -- before
applying a Service Pack.
- Never save your work to a floppy disk
(if you still use them!) first before
saving it to your hard drive. Never save your work only
on a floppy disk: they are more fragile than a hard drive.
- Moreover,
floppies (and ZIP drives) are relatively small and can quickly fill up.
Even if there appears to be room on the floppy, there can be a problem
with this method:
- The way
Windows saves a file to another drive is a multi-step process, if the
file already exists on the target drive. It first makes a temporary
file on the target drive, and once that process is successful, it then
copies the temporary file to the original on the target drive,
overwriting it. Then it deletes the temporary file. Thus, there is some
safety built into the process. However, this means that the target must
have enough free space for roughly double the original file size. If
not, you may not be able to save a current file to the floppy or Zip
drive.
- Always
save your file to your hard drive first, and then
copy the file to the floppy. A macro can help automated this. See
"SaveCopy - A macro that saves the current file and then immediately
makes a copy on another hard drive, floppy disk, or other removable
disk," here.
- What about
using Corel's shipping macro, SAVETOA.WCM?
- If you
open an existing file on Drive A, SAVETOA will save to it first (or try
to save it there), before making the copy to your hard drive's default
Document folder (see your Tools, Settings, Files, Document tab for the
location of this folder).
- However,
if you start a new file with File, New -- or open a file on your hard
drive -- then the macro will save it to your hard drive first, and then
make a copy to your Drive A.
- The latter
is a better and safer method.
- In the
existing-file-on-the-floppy (drive A) case, SaveToA will first make (or
attempt to make) a copy on the floppy, which most experts agree is
fraught with potential problems -- not the least of which is that there
might not be enough space on the floppy for the copying operation to be
carried to completion. Therefore, it is much safer to work from, and
save to, a hard drive (or at least a drive with plenty of space
available -- at least twice the size of the file you are trying to
save) than to try and save to a floppy, which can quickly and
unnoticeably fill up -- not to mention that the floppy media itself if
much more prone to damage than a hard drive.
|
|
Footnote
1
Should
you reinstall WordPerfect as the first step in fixing problems?
It is my observation that
many users think that the first and best thing to do when they have a
problem with WordPerfect is to reinstall it. I believe this idea comes
from two general sources:
(1) People unfamiliar with
how software programs actually work, or how modern hardware devices
actually work, have hit upon the technique of "if it doesn't work,
reboot (or reinstall) the thing." They then pass this recommendation on
to others, who assume the information is valid because it appears
logical and it was (and often, still is) a commonplace thing to do when
dealing with some Microsoft Windows issues.
In an earlier age we used
to think that smacking a wonky TV would help get better reception
(a/k/a "percussive maintenance"). That actually seemed to help once in
a while -- possibly because vacuum tubes (something like incandescent
light bulbs) powered the thing and they were susceptible to vibration.
And because rebooting a modern device once in a while actually works
(and for some devices -- e.g., iPods, smart phones -- rebooting can be
a preferred solution for some things), folks seem to be inclined to
perpetuate the same, somewhat superstitious, behavior for all
computerized products: "Whack it! Reboot it! Reinstall it!"
(2) A call to a "Help Desk"
-- if you can reach one these days -- will often result in instructions
to perform a few basic troubleshooting steps followed by the
recommendation to completely remove and reinstall the program. Since
the recommendation comes from a presumed expert, it becomes the Remedy
of Choice instead of the Remedy of Last Resort.
It seems to me that the real
reason this recommendation is so quickly given is that it works
sometimes and it immediately gets the caller off
the line while they go about the task of reinstalling the program. A
call back will no doubt be answered by some other Help Desk "guru." In
other words, it's sometimes a pass-the-buck option for the Help Desk
people. If the problem persists, and the user has the time and energy
to call back, the Help Desk can then drill down through a series of
alternatives. (If you listen carefully, you will hear them clicking
through their on-screen list of things for you to try. They are
following a script.) This method works -- for them --
and possibly for you, too.
You might conclude from
your call that one of the first things to do is a
"program reinstall" whenever you have a problem. Why waste time on any
other remedy? you think. It worked before. Why not now?
But
with WordPerfect, immediate reinstallation often is a waste of time
because -- for one thing -- it does not overwrite (i.e., replace)
user-customized program files like the default template or regular
documents that might have been damaged internally (but still open up)
-- any of which might be a possible source of your problem.
Moreover, many WordPerfect
problems can be traced to printer
drivers, which are separate Windows files and which not
affected by reinstalling WordPerfect.
These things are usually fairly easy to fix, as explained above.
To me, reinstalling is just
about the last thing to do,
especially with WordPerfect.
(I would try a program Repair first, from the Windows Control Panel, to
refresh critical program files and Windows Registry entries.) But,
hey, that's my opinion -- as well as the opinion on most WordPerfect
experts who have actually used the program for many years.
If you really want to
reinstall the program, see here.
[Back to Contents]
Footnote 2
What is a
"user profile"?
[The following was taken
from various Internet sources:]
A
Windows user profile
describes the Windows configuration for a specific
user, including the user's environment and preference
settings.
Note: A user
profile is different from a user
account, which you use to log on to Windows. Each user
account has at least one user profile associated with it.
A
user profile allows the user to have a personalized "desktop
environment." The desktop environment includes the content and
arrangement of Start Menu groups, screen colors, desktop shortcuts,
network and printer connections, mouse and keyboard settings,
and
many other things. It also includes various
application settings (a/k/a program
configuration options or "preferences").
When a new user logs on to
a computer, a user profile is
created automatically. While a user is logged on, changes specific to that user
that are made to the
desktop environment (including various applications) are saved to their
user
profile.
Tip: Here's some
information about how to create a new Windows user profile and copy
files from the old profile to the new one: If you use Windows 7, see this
page on the Microsoft site. For Windows Vista, see this
page on the Microsoft site. If you are using Windows XP or
earlier, search the Microsoft site for information relevant to those
Windows versions.
User profiles can be either
Local or Roaming. Search the Internet or the Microsoft site
for more information.
On a network?
What
the user sees on the computer screen, as well as what files,
applications and directories they have access to, is sometimes
determined by how the network administrator has set up the user's
profile. (source)
The
profile is "built," in part, from System Policy information (for
example, things that a user has access to and things that the user can
and cannot change) and in part from permitted, saved changes that a
user makes to customize the desktop.
Roaming profiles are
downloaded from the server when a user logs on,
and uploaded when the user logs off. Large roaming profiles can
increase login
time and even degrade performance on some networks. As one site states:
"This
allows the user to move from machine to machine and still maintain a
consistent personal working environment. Network administrators find
roaming profiles to be especially beneficial in a work or learning
environment when more than one user shares the same computer, or when a
user moves from place-to-place during the course of a workday."
(source)
Hence, some larger
organizations limit their size to avoid
degrading system response time. Search
the Internet or the Microsoft site for more information.
[Back to Contents]
Footnote 3
For those who are new to
computers or to folder and file navigation
using Windows Explorer
(which is installed on all Windows PCs), here's an easy way to find
your currently active
default template so that you can rename it (if necessary).
1. In WordPerfect, click on
Tools, Settings, Files, Template (tab).
2.
The "Default template folder" field on that tab should be selected
(i.e., the contents are highlighted in reverse color). If it is not
selected, right-click in that field and choose Select All.
3.
Copy the selected contents of that field to the Windows clipboard with
Ctrl+c (or by right-clicking the selected field and choosing Copy).
4. Close the dialog and
then close the WordPerfect program.
Before doing any other task that invloves the Windows clipboard, do the
following:
5. Right-click on the Start Orb ("Start button") on your Windows
desktop. Click on Open Windows Explorer. [Alternative:
Click Start, (All) Programs, Accessories (folder), Windows Explorer.]
6.
In Windows Explorer, click in the top field -- in the empty space area
to the right of the field's contents (the field shows the current
path). Delete the contents of that field. (If you can't find an empty
area in that field, try choosing "Computer" or "Desktop" from the left
pane in Windows Explorer. This should shorten the displayed path in
that field.)
7. In that field, paste the previously copied
material (step #3) with Ctrl+v (or by right-clicking in that field and
choosing Paste).
8. Press the Enter key. The folder containing
the currently active default template should open in Windows Explorer.
(You can click on the "Name" column heading to sort the items
alphabetically.).
9. Scroll down to find the default template.
It will have a name like wp16US.wpt -- assuming you are using
WordPerfect X6 (i.e., version 16) and the US language version. (If you can't find it in the Windows Explorer
window, see above.)
10. Rename the first
part of the name; for example, rename wp16US.wpt to
wp16USbackup.wpt. (You
can rename the file by clicking on its name to
choose it, then use Windows Explorer's File menu to Rename it.
Or you
can just right-click on the file's name and choose Rename from the
context menu that appears.)
When
you next reopen WordPerfect, it will automatically create a new factory
fresh (i.e., unmodified) version of the default template in that
folder. You can then copy various customizations from the backed up
version into this new template file, as described above (and in more detail on the Templates page).
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