Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 19, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Robin is working with Word 2003 in a networked environment, and she can't get her menus to stay in full, non-dynamic mode. She displays Tools | Customize | Options tab and then clicks the Always Show Full Menus option, and things are fine. But the next time she starts Word, the check box is no longer selected and she is again faced with unwanted dynamic menus.
The inability to save this particular setting could be due to any number of reasons. It is possible, for instance, that an add-in you've installed in Word could be resetting the setting every time you restart the program. If you suspect this is the cause, you should disable or remove the add-in to see if the problem goes away.
A more likely scenario is related to running Word over the network. If your configuration files (such as Normal.dot, word.pip, or other similar files) are being stored on a network drive, it is very possible that they are being stored in such a way that you cannot save your changes or the files are being overwritten by other users. If this is the case, the only solution is to talk through the problem with your network administrator and figure out where the configuration files are stored and what permissions you have to those files and the folder in which they are stored.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (329) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
Some of the secondary menus used in Word can be made into floating toolbars, if you know the trick. It's not that hard; ...
Discover MoreYou can customize Word to your heart's content. One way to customize the program is by adding options to the Word menus. ...
Discover MoreWant to get a bit fancy with how the Word interface behaves? You can configure Word so that its menus don't just appear, ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments