Expert: Dale F. Wiley - 1/25/2008

Question
I have recently purchased a new computer. I have thousands of autocorrect entries in the old computer. I am a medical transcriptionist. I tried to follow the instructions with the MVP Autocorrect.zip download. I tried everything but just will not work. Please help me transfer my old autocorrect entries from Windows XP to Windows Vista.

Thank You, Pat

Answer
Hi Pat,

Let me say that I have found that when using Vista not everything works as it should.

Here is how the Microsoft Mavens say to do this:

Backup/restore or transfer AutoCorrect, AutoText, Macros, and other critical files from one version of Word and Windows to another.

The four critical files to keep backed up are:

Normal.dot: Stores formatted AutoCorrect entries, AutoText entries, keyboard shortcuts, menu customizations, custom toolbars, styles, macros.

.acl file: Stores unformatted AutoCorrect entries (the majority of your AutoCorrect entries).

custom.dic: Words you add during spell-check.

Templates you create (.dot files).

Where these files are located depends on your version of Word and Windows. If you are not sure of the location of files on your hard drive:

Right-click the Start button and select Find or Search.

Type the file name in the Named box. To locate the .acl file, type *.acl (asterisk dot acl) in the Named box.

Change the Look in box to your main drive and make sure Subfolders is checked.

Click Find Now.

When your file(s) appears in the drop-down window, right-click the file(s) and select SendTo to back up files to your floppy/Zip/CD.

If you forget the location of a file when you need to restore it back to its original folder, use Find again.

To locate the folder for templates you create: Go to Tools/Options/File Locations tab to see where User Templates are stored. Certain versions of Word may only show one location for all templates.

Some installations of Windows XP hides various files. If your search (Find) does not reveal certain files, go to Windows Explorer/Tools menu/Folder Options/View tab and check the box next to Show all hidden files and search again.

Transferring AutoCorrect files: The name of the .acl file depends on your version of Word. The easiest way to locate your unformatted AutoCorrect entries is to add one entry and look for the most current modified date of the file in your search.

Prior to transferring the .acl file to a newer (or older) version of Word, or another computer with a newer Word version:

Add one AutoCorrect entry in the *new* version.

Locate (Find) the .acl file and note the name and folder path of the file.

View the backup file on your floppy/Zip/CD and rename the file to match the new one (if necessary).

Copy the backup file to the appropriate folder on your hard drive.

The file structure of Word 97, 2000, and 2002 is the same, so it is perfectly safe to transfer the above files between versions. However, menu items (File, Edit, View, Insert, etc.) change between versions. When upgrading, check out the menu items in the newer version before transferring your normal.dot file so you don't miss out and never know new options are there.

Good Luck.

Dale :-)