WD95: How to Move AutoCorrect Entries Between Computers

This article describes how to move Word 7.0 AutoCorrect entries from one computer to another.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

AutoCorrect entries are stored in three locations: the registry, the Normal.dot template file, and an AutoCorrect list (<username>000.acl) file.

NOTE: This procedure replaces the existing AutoCorrect List on the destination computer with the AutoCorrect List from the source computer. In other words, the existing AutoCorrect List on the destination computer is lost.

To Copy the AutoCorrect List on the Source Computer

From the computer that has the AutoCorrect list that you want to copy, use the following steps:

1. To export the registry key, do the following:
   1. Quit all programs.
   2. Click the Windows Start button, and then click Run.
   3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
   4. Go to the following registry key:
      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft Office\95 \AutoCorrect
      NOTE: The status bar displays the following:
      My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft Office\95\AutoCorrect.
   5. On the Registry menu, click Export Registry File, type a file name, and then click Save.
   6. Close the Registry Editor.
2. Copy the following files to a floppy disk:
   • The exported registry file that you created in step 1-e.
   • Normal.dot (normally located in the C:\MSOffice\templates folder).
   • <username>000.acl (located in the Windows folder).

To Replace the AutoCorrect List on the Destination Computer

1. Rename the original Normal.dot file (by default this file is located in the C:\MSOffice\Templates folder), and then copy the Normal.dot file from the floppy disk to the C:\MSOffice\Templates folder.
2. Rename the <username>000.acl file (located in the Windows folder), and then copy the <username>000.acl from the floppy disk into the Windows folder. Then rename the <username>000.acl file you just copied to the Windows folder to the correct <username>000.acl.
   
   NOTE: The <username> should be the same as the logon name for this computer.
   
   NOTE: When you replace the <username>000.acl file on your system with the <username>000.acl file that contains the AutoCorrect entries you want to share, all of the AutoCorrect entries you had on this system are lost and are replaced with the new AutoCorrect entries you are sharing.
3. On the Registry menu, click Import Registry File, select the exported registry file on the floppy disk, and then click Open. You should receive a message similar to the following:
   Information in A:\<filename>.reg has been successfully entered into the registry.
   Click OK to close the message.
4. Go to the following registry key:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft Office\95 \AutoCorrect\List
5. In the List key, select Path (on the right side of the Registry Editor).
6. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
7. In the Edit String dialog box, change the Value data box to the <username>000.acl that you typed in step 2, and then click OK.
   
   NOTE: Make sure you specify the path to the <username>000.acl file in the Value data box. For example: "C:\Windows\<username>000.acl" (without the quotation marks).
8. On the Registry menu, click Exit to close the Registry Editor.

When you start Word, the AutoCorrect List from the other computer will be available.

For more information about where Word settings are stored in the Windows registry, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: