Some style names may change when a document that is saved in Word 2002 is opened in Word 2003

When a document that is saved in Microsoft Word 2002 is opened in Microsoft Office Word 2003, some style names that were used in the document may change. For example, Char may be appended to the original style name. Alternatively, the style name may become blank.

This problem may occur if the document contains character styles that are linked to built-in paragraph styles.

How to obtain the hotfix

This issue is fixed in the Word 2003 post-Service Pack 2 Hotfix Package that is dated April 4, 2006. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

Notes about this hotfix

• This hotfix does not fix an existing document that exhibits these symptoms.
• This hotfix fixes these symptoms only in new documents that are created after you apply this hotfix.

How to enable the hotfix

To enable this hotfix, follow these steps:

1. Exit Word 2003.
2. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
3. Locate and then click to select the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Options
4. After you select the subkey that is specified in step 3, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD Value.
5. Type NoLinkBltinCharStyles, and then press ENTER.
6. Right-click NoLinkBltinCharStyles, and then click Modify.
7. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
8. On the File menu, click Exit to exit Registry Editor.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.