Ensure Predictable Document Automation by Fully-Launching First-time Instances of Word
Applies to: Word 2003, Word 2007
A user's method of launching Word has the potential to cause trouble.
Word goes through a precise series of processes as it launches. The launch methods employed by the end-user can vary widely – from double-clicking to open a document on the File System, from a Search, and from other applications such as Internet Explorer and Outlook. These methods can often alter this sequence, either due to integration methods used to connect Word with other applications, or in an effort to expedite launch times. As a result, it is possible to run "incomplete" instances of Word, in which all of the needed building blocks are not put in place.
These are some of the major processes that occur during Word's launch:
- The Word application is opened.
- The COMAddins associated with it (and with some or all of the third-party tools that are installed) are loaded into memory.
- The global templates (in Word's Startup directory) are loaded.
- Any automation in the global templates set to run automatically will try to do so (and typically depend on components from the previous steps).
- An attempt will be made to open the document (if any), at which point any automation in the document's attached template will execute.
If any of these processes do not fully finish, add-in tools that require them won't run properly and are likely to produce error messages or other unexpected performance.
We recommend always launching Word's first instance from the 'Start' menu or from its own desktop shortcut, etc., and then using its 'File > Open' menu choices to pick a document. If one begins with Word NOT already running, double-clicking a document icon or opening an e-mail attachment can cause the "incomplete" launch of Word's add-ins described above.
In some instances, Word may already be running, but Windows may have trouble recognizing or communicating with it; this other instance may not have any visible windows. In such cases, a second instance of Word will launch. Indications that two copies of Word are in memory are:
- automation appears 'broken'
- menus or toolbars seem to be missing options, or
- Word may request a save of the Normal.dot template on exit, but indicate that the template is still in use and offer to save it under a different name.
To confirm this is the case, check the Windows "Task Manager", and look in the "Processes" tab (it may help to sort the 'image name' column in descending order so that the "W"s are at the top). Winword.exe should appear ONCE in the list.
