Knowledge Base

Documents that have attached templates take a long time to open in Word 2002 and in Word 2003

Article ID: 830561

Article Last Modified on 11/26/2007

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Office Word 2003
Microsoft Word 2002 Standard Edition, when used with:
- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional

SYMPTOMS

When you open a Microsoft Word 2002 document or a Microsoft Word 2003 document on a computer that has Microsoft Windows XP installed, the document may take longer then expected to open. For example, the document may take 5 to 10 minutes to open.
Note You will not have this problem if you run Word on the Windows Vista operating system.

CAUSE

This symptom may occur if the document has a template attached or linked and one of the following conditions is true:

The attached template, its folder, or its share is missing.
The attached template has been moved.
The attached template has been renamed.

When a Word template is missing, Windows XP will try to locate the missing template multiple times. The process of locating a missing template may cause a Word document to take longer than expected to open.

It will take longer to open the document when you are connected to a network compared to when you are disconnected from the network.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, install the fix that is described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

823372 Your Word documents take a long time to open when they have attached templates

Note After you apply this fix, you must create a registry key to activate it.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem on a computer with Windows XP installed, use one of the following methods as appropriate for your situation:

Method 1: Attach the template from a new location, or attach the global template (Normal.dot).
Method 2: Use a custom Visual Basic Application to change the attached template to the global template (Normal.dot ) when a new document is opened.
Method 3: Create a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macro that loops through all the documents in a folder and changes the old server name with the new server name
Method 4: Create a VBA Macro that loops through all the documents in a folder and changes the old server name with the global template (Normal.dot )
Method 5: Rename the server, the share, or the folder to the original name

Method 1: Attach the Template from a New Location

Open the document in Microsoft Word. Wait until the document is open. After the document is open, attach the template from the new location. Or, change the template to the global template, Normal.dot. To attach the template, follow these steps:

On the Tools menu, click Templates and Add-ins.
In the Templates and Add-ins dialog box, click Attach.
In the Attach Template dialog box, select the template that you want, and then click Open.
In the Templates and Add-ins dialog box, click OK.

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Method 2: Use a custom Visual Basic Application to change the attached template to the global template (Normal.dot ) when a new document is opened

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure. However, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements.

Use a custom solution to change the attached template to the Global Template (Normal.dot ) when a new document is opened.

Note Make sure that macro security is set to medium or low.

To create the custom solution in Microsoft Visual Basic 6, follow these steps:

Open a new Standard.exe project.
On a User Form, add the following components:
- One list box
- Two text boxes
- Four command buttons
- Two labels
Set a reference to the Microsoft Scripting Runtime (Scrun.dll).

Copy and paste the following code in a user form:

Option Explicit

Private Const BIF_RETURNONLYFSDIRS = 1
Private Const BIF_DONTGOBELOWDOMAIN = 2
Private Const MAX_PATH = 260
Private Declare Function SHBrowseForFolder Lib "shell32" _
   (lpbi As BrowseInfo) As Long
Private Declare Function SHGetPathFromIDList Lib "shell32" _
   (ByVal pidList As Long, _
   ByVal lpBuffer As String) As Long
Private Declare Function lstrcat Lib "kernel32" Alias "lstrcatA" _
   (ByVal lpString1 As String, ByVal _
   lpString2 As String) As Long

Private Type BrowseInfo
   hWndOwner      As Long
   pIDLRoot       As Long
   pszDisplayName As Long
   lpszTitle      As Long
   ulFlags        As Long
   lpfnCallback   As Long
   lParam         As Long
   iImage         As Long
End Type

Public fso As New FileSystemObject
Dim fld As Folder

Private Sub cmdEnd_Click()
   End
End Sub

Private Sub cmdSource_Click()
   ' Opens a Treeview control that displays the directories in a computer.

   Dim lpIDList As Long
   Dim sBuffer As String
   Dim szTitle As String
   Dim tBrowseInfo As BrowseInfo

   szTitle = "This is the title"
   With tBrowseInfo
      .hWndOwner = Me.hWnd
      .lpszTitle = lstrcat(szTitle, "")
      .ulFlags = BIF_RETURNONLYFSDIRS + BIF_DONTGOBELOWDOMAIN
   End With

   lpIDList = SHBrowseForFolder(tBrowseInfo)
   If (lpIDList) Then
      sBuffer = Space(MAX_PATH)
      SHGetPathFromIDList lpIDList, sBuffer
      sBuffer = Left(sBuffer, InStr(sBuffer, vbNullChar) - 1)
      frmFSO.txtSearch.Text = sBuffer
   End If
End Sub

Private Sub cmdTarget_Click()

   ' Opens a Treeview control that displays the directories in a computer.

    Dim lpIDList As Long
    Dim sBuffer As String
    Dim szTitle As String
    Dim tBrowseInfo As BrowseInfo

    szTitle = "This is the title"
    With tBrowseInfo
       .hWndOwner = Me.hWnd
       .lpszTitle = lstrcat(szTitle, "")
       .ulFlags = BIF_RETURNONLYFSDIRS + BIF_DONTGOBELOWDOMAIN
    End With

    lpIDList = SHBrowseForFolder(tBrowseInfo)

    If (lpIDList) Then
       sBuffer = Space(MAX_PATH)
       SHGetPathFromIDList lpIDList, sBuffer
       sBuffer = Left(sBuffer, InStr(sBuffer, vbNullChar) - 1)
    End If
End Sub

Private Sub Command1_Click()
   Dim nDirs As Long, nFiles As Long, lSize As Currency
   Dim sDir As String, sSrchString As String
   Dim nTime
   Dim ntime2
   Dim nOk As Integer
   Dim fileNumber As Integer
   Dim oWord As Object
   Dim strServer As String
   Set oWord = CreateObject("Word.Application")
   strServer = txtOldServer.Text
   nTime = Time()
   fileNumber = FreeFile
       
   List1.Clear
       
   Open "C:\ChangeTemplate.log" For Append As #fileNumber
   Write #fileNumber, "Start:" & " " & nTime
   Close #fileNumber
                 
   'Enter the top-level directory to start the search.
   sDir = txtSearch.Text
 
  'Enter the type of files, such as *.doc for Word documents
  sSrchString = "*.doc"
   
  MousePointer = vbHourglass

 'The label shows the current subfolder being searched.
  Label1.Caption = "Searching Folder: " & vbCrLf & UCase(sDir) & "..."
  lSize = FindFile(sDir, sSrchString, nDirs, nFiles, strServer, oWord)
  MousePointer = vbDefault
  ntime2 = Time()
  'Opens text file to show the stop time and the total numbers of
  'files that were found.
  Open "C:\ChangeTemplate.log" For Append As #fileNumber
  Write #fileNumber, "Stop:" & " " & ntime2 & " " & _
     "Time to Complete the Changes: " & _
     Format(ntime2 - nTime, "nn:ss") & vbCrLf _
     & Str(nFiles) & " files found in" & Str(nDirs) & _
     " directories"
  Close #fileNumber
  ' Debug.Print "Stop:" & " " & ntime2
  Label1.Caption = "Done"
  If Label1.Caption = "Done" Then Command2.Enabled = True
     MsgBox "Done"
     oWord.Quit
     Set oWord = Nothing
End Sub

Private Function FindFile(ByVal sFol As String, sFile As String, _
   nDirs As Long, nFiles As Long, strOServer As String, oWrd As Object) _
      As Currency
   Dim tFld As Folder, tFil As File, FileName As String
   Dim strFileName As String
   Dim fileNumber As Integer
      
   On Error GoTo Catch
     
   Set fld = fso.GetFolder(sFol)
   FileName = Dir(fso.BuildPath(fld.Path, sFile), vbNormal Or _
      vbHidden Or vbSystem Or vbReadOnly)
   While Len(FileName) <> 0
      FindFile = FindFile + FileLen(fso.BuildPath(fld.Path, FileName))
      nFiles = nFiles + 1
      List1.AddItem fso.BuildPath(fld.Path, FileName)  ' Load ListBox
      strFileName = fld.Path & "\" & FileName
      '==
        
      ChangeTemplate strFileName, strOServer, oWrd
      FileName = Dir()  ' Get next file
      DoEvents
   Wend
   Label1 = "Searching " & vbCrLf & fld.Path & "..."
   nDirs = nDirs + 1

   If fld.SubFolders.Count > 0 Then
      For Each tFld In fld.SubFolders
         DoEvents
         FindFile = FindFile + FindFile(tFld.Path, sFile, nDirs, nFiles, _
            strOServer, oWrd)
      Next
   End If
Exit Function

Catch:     FileName = ""
    
   If Err.Number = 76 Then
      MsgBox "This is not a valid path statement" & vbCrLf & _
         "The program will end!"
      End
   End If
   Debug.Print Err.Description
   fileNumber = FreeFile

   'Writes the error description and number to the log file.
   Open "C:\ChangeTemplate.log" For Append As #fileNumber
   Write #fileNumber, Err.Description & " " & Err.Number
   Close #fileNumber
   Resume Next
End Function

Private Sub Command2_Click()
    'Use this to view the log file.
    Shell "notepad.exe c:\ChangeTemplate.log", 1
End Sub

In a Standard module, add the following code:

Sub ChangeTemplate(SourceFile As String, strServer As String, objWord As Object)

   Dim dlgTemplates As Dialog
   Dim strTemp As String
   Dim strpath As String
   Dim objtemplate As String
   Dim dlgTemplate As Object
   Dim x As Integer
   Dim fNumber As Integer
   Dim objDoc As Object
   
   fNumber = FreeFile
      
   objWord.Visible = False
   strTemp = SourceFile

   'This function determines if the document is password protected or Read Only.
   If OpenDocument(objWord, strTemp) = True Then
      'This assumes that there is only one document opened. It may have to be adjusted
      'to look for additional document being opened.
       Set objDoc = objWord.Documents(1)
       'Dialogs 87 is the Templates and Addins dialog
       Set dlgTemplates = objWord.Dialogs(87)
       objtemplate = objWord.Dialogs(87).Template

       'parse out the server name from the fullname of the attached template

       If Mid(objtemplate, 2, 1) = ":" Or Left(objtemplate, 2) = "\\" Then
          x = InStr(3, objtemplate, "\")
          strTemp = Mid(objtemplate, 3, x - 3)
          'if the parse name is the same as the stated server then
          'change the attached template to the Normal

          If strTemp = strServer Then
             objDoc.AttachedTemplate = "Normal.dot"
             'write to a log file the file name and location
             Open "C:\ChangeTemplate.log" For Append As #fNumber
             Write #fNumber, "Document: " & objDoc.fullName & _
             "Attached template changed to Normal.dot"
             Close #fNumber
          End If
       End If
            
     'After the template  is changed, the document is saved and closed.
            
      objDoc.Save
      objDoc.Close
         Else
      'Enter into the log file files that are not opened.
      Open "C:\ChangeTemplate.log" For Append As #fNumber
      Write #fNumber, "Document:  " & SourceFile & "  not opened! it's 
      Read Only or Password Protected"
      Close #fNumber
   End If

End Sub
Function OpenDocument(ByRef objWord As Object, ByVal sDoc As String) As Boolean
'Arguments:
' objWord - a valid Word Application object.
' sDoc    - the complete path and file name of the document to open in Word.
'
'Opens the document specified by the sDoc variable.
'This function returns True if the document is opened and is read/write.
'Else, this function returns False if the document cannot be opened
'or if the document is opened read-only because of the "read-only recommended" setting 
'in the document.
'Therefore only if this function returns True if you try  to modify the document.
'If False is returned, log the sDoc into a text file and alert the user
'of the list of file(s) that could not be processed by the batch routine.
    On Error GoTo EH
    Dim oDoc As Object
    Set oDoc = objWord.Documents.Open( _
        FileName:=sDoc, _
        ReadOnly:=False, _
        PasswordDocument:="?#nonsense@$", _
        WritePasswordDocument:="?#nonsense@$")
    If oDoc.ReadOnly = True Then
        OpenDocument = False
    Else
        OpenDocument = True
    End If
CleanUp:
    On Error Resume Next
    Set oDoc = Nothing
    Exit Function

EH:
    'There was an error opening the file. Return False
    OpenDocument = False
    Resume CleanUp
End Function

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Method 3: Create a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macro that loops through all the documents in a folder and changes the old server name with the new server name

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure. However, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements.

The following macro loops through all the documents in a folder and changes the old server name with the new server name for the location of the templates. This macro works only if the path for the templates is the same.

Sub Test()
   Dim strFilePath As String 
   Dim strPath As String
   Dim intCounter As Integer
   Dim strFileName As String
   Dim OldServer As String
   Dim NewServer As String
   Dim objDoc As Document
   Dim objTemplate As Template
   Dim dlgTemplate As Dialog  

   OldServer = "<\\rsnj01\vol1>" 
   NewServer = "<\\rsnyc1p\vol3>" 
   strFilePath = InputBox("What is the folder location that you want to use?") 
   If Right(strFilePath, 1) <> "\" Then strFilePath = strFilePath & "\" 
   strFileName = Dir(strFilePath & "*.doc")  
      Do While strFileName <> ""    
         Set objDoc = Documents.Open(strFilePath & strFileName)    
         Set objTemplate = objDoc.AttachedTemplate    
         Set dlgTemplate = Dialogs(wdDialogToolsTemplates)    
         strPath = dlgTemplate.Template    
         If LCase(Left(strPath, 13)) = LCase(OldServer) Then        
            objDoc.AttachedTemplate = NewServer & Mid(strPath, 14)    
        End If    
         strFileName = Dir()    
         objDoc.Save                  
         objDoc.Close
      Loop  
   Set objDoc = Nothing
   Set objTemplate = Nothing
   Set dlgTemplate = Nothing  

End Sub

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Method 4: Create a VBA macro that loops through all the documents in a folder and changes the old server name with the global template (Normal.dot )

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure. However, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements.

The following macro loops through all the documents in a folder and changes the old server name with the global template (Normal.dot ).

Note If a document is password protected in anyway, the template will not be changed and the code will fail.

Sub Test()

 

    Dim strFilePath As String

    Dim strPath As String

    Dim intCounter As Integer

    Dim strFileName As String

    Dim OldServer As String

    Dim objDoc As Document

    Dim objTemplate As Template

    Dim dlgTemplate As Dialog

    Dim nServer As Integer

 

    'hardcode the name of the old server.

 

    OldServer = "{enter the name of the Old Server}"

    nServer = Len(OldServer)

    strFilePath = InputBox("What is the folder location that you want to use?")

 

    If Right(strFilePath, 1) <> "\" Then strFilePath = strFilePath & "\"

     strFileName = Dir(strFilePath & "*.doc")

     Do While strFileName <> ""

     Set objDoc = Documents.Open(strFilePath & strFileName)

     Set objTemplate = objDoc.AttachedTemplate

     Set dlgTemplate = Dialogs(wdDialogToolsTemplates)

     strPath = dlgTemplate.Template

    

     If LCase(Left(strPath, nServer)) = LCase(OldServer) Then

     objDoc.AttachedTemplate = NormalTemplate

    End If

 

    strFileName = Dir()

    objDoc.Save

    objDoc.Close

    Loop

 

    Set objDoc = Nothing

    Set objTemplate = Nothing

    Set dlgTemplate = Nothing

 

End Sub

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Method 5: Rename the server, the share, or the folder to the original name

If the server, the share, or the folder that contains the template was moved or renamed, rename the server, the share, or the folder back to the original name.

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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

Additional query words: slow

Keywords: kbtshoot kbperformance kbprb KB830561

Microsoft KB Archive/830561

Contents

Documents that have attached templates take a long time to open in Word 2002 and in Word 2003

SYMPTOMS

CAUSE

RESOLUTION

WORKAROUND

Method 1: Attach the Template from a New Location

Method 2: Use a custom Visual Basic Application to change the attached template to the global template (Normal.dot ) when a new document is opened

Method 3: Create a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macro that loops through all the documents in a folder and changes the old server name with the new server name

Method 4: Create a VBA macro that loops through all the documents in a folder and changes the old server name with the global template (Normal.dot )

Method 5: Rename the server, the share, or the folder to the original name

STATUS