OL97: AutoSignature Problems Using WordMail

When attempting to create an AutoSignature using Microsoft Word 97 (WordMail) as your e-mail editor in Microsoft Outlook 97, you may experience the following problems:

• While attempting to create the AutoSignature you are not presented the option to make it the default, so it is not created.
  
  -or-
• You can create and use the AutoSignature in the current Outlook session but it is not retained after you restart Outlook.

The Word's Normal.dot template file in which the AutoSignature data is stored is corrupted.

Remove the SIGNATURE entry from the Word AutoText entries or rebuild the Normal.dot file.

Removing the SIGNATURE AutoText entry is the best solution as it preserves any special attributes stored by the user in the Normal.dot file. However, if this procedure does not solve the problem it is necessary to rebuild the Normal.dot file.

Remove the SIGNATURE AutoText Entry

1. Quit Outlook.
2. On the Word Insert menu, point to AutoText and then click AutoText.
3. Scroll through the list of AutoText entries and click to select SIGNATURE.
4. Click Delete and OK.
5. Close Word and if prompted, click to save changes to the Normal.dot file.
6. Start Outlook.
7. Open a new mail message.
8. Enter the AutoSignature data as you want it to appear.
9. Select the AutoSignature data just entered.
10. On the Tools menu, click AutoSignature.
11. Click Yes and OK.
12. Close the message without saving.

Rebuild the Normal.dot File

1. Quit Outlook.
2. Quit Word.
3. Using the Windows Find File function, search for and rename the Normal.dot file.
4. Start Outlook.
5. Open a new Mail message.
6. Enter the AutoSignature data as you want it to appear.
7. Select the AutoSignature data you just entered.
8. On the Tools menu, click AutoSignature.
9. Click Yes and OK.
10. Close the message without saving.