Editing AutoCorrect ACL Files

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 30, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


Siegfried uses the AutoCorrect feature to save many abbreviations in five different languages. He wonders if there is any way of opening an ACL file in an editor, editing some entries, and saving it such that it can be used in the AutoCorrect function with the edited changes. In other words, he would like to edit ACL files for different languages without having to go through the one-by-one entries via the AutoCorrect menu.

Over the years there have been several macros developed that allow ACL files to be exported and imported, most notably so they could be moved from one machine to another. In the process of exporting, the ACL file is in a condition that can be edited prior to importing it again.

One such macro is mentioned at the Microsoft Knowledge Base, at this address:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/207748

This macro will work with Word 2000 or (it appears) with later versions. There are problems with it, however, as it won't work well on more complex ACL files, such as those using multi-paragraph corrections. In that case, you will want to check out the explanations (and associated macros) at the Word MVP site, located here:

http://wordmvp.com/FAQs/Customization/ExportAutocorrect.htm

The macros at this site are much more robust than those at Microsoft's site. When you export the AutoCorrect entries, they are in a text file that can be easily edited using a text editor.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (434) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Opening a Template

If you have a template stored on disk, you can open it and make changes to it just as you do other documents. This tip ...

Discover More

Inconsistent Formatting in an Index

When indexing a document, you may find that some of your index entries aren't formatted the same as your other index ...

Discover More

Automatic Lines for Dividing Lists

When preparing a report for others to use, it is not unusual to add a horizontal line between major sections of the ...

Discover More

Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!

More WordTips (menu)

Easily Inserting a Section Mark

Section marks are used regularly in the writings of some industries, such as in legal documents. If you need a way to ...

Discover More

Managing the AutoCorrect List

If you need to delete all the entries in your AutoCorrect list, the easiest way to do so is with a macro. This tip ...

Discover More

Make AutoCorrect Pay Attention to Character Case

If you rely on AutoText (as most Word users do), you may have noticed that it doesn't always give the desired results ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 4 + 1?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


This Site

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.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.