Error Messages When Updating Too Many Fields at Once

 Last reviewed: July 30, 1997
Article ID: Q99739
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0 and 3.1

SUMMARY

If you update a large selection of INCLUDE fields (100 or more) at the same time, Word for Windows updates some of the fields, then one or more of the following error messages occur:

  • Error, cannot open file.
  • Error creating work file.
  • Word cannot save or create this file.
  • Cannot write to file WINWORD.INI.
  • Not enough memory to complete the operation.
  • Out of memory.

    NOTE: These error messages can occur when you update any type of field; however, they occur most frequently when you update INCLUDE fields.

MORE INFORMATION

Because you cannot save the file, you must exit and restart Word and then reopen the file. The following workarounds update a small number of INCLUDE fields at a time and then save the document before updating more fields. 

  NOTE: Increasing the number of file handles in the CONFIG.SYS file
  from FILES=60 to FILES=255 (the limit) does not increase the number
  of INCLUDE fields you can update at once.

Workaround 1

  1. Select several INCLUDE fields (up to 25) and update them by pressing F9.

  2. Perform a normal save operation (that is, clear the Allow Fast Saves [Fast Save in Word versions 1.x] option before saving the file).

Workaround 2

Use the following macro to update each field individually: 

Sub MAIN
On Error Goto Bye StartOfDocument ViewFieldCodes 1 While CmpBookmarks("\Sel", "\EndOfDoc") 
 NextField
 a$ = Selection$()
 n = InStr(a$, "EMBED")
 If n <> 0 Then
  NextField
 Else
  UpdateFields
  CharRight 1
 EndIf
Wend MsgBox "You've Reached The End of the Document." + \ 
 "All fields have been updated. "
Bye: 
End Sub
For more information on editing and running WordBasic macros in Word version 2.0, refer to pages 784-786 and 765-767 in the "User's Guide."

WARNING: ANY USE BY YOU OF THE CODE PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Microsoft provides this macro code "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.

REFERENCES

"Using WordBasic," by WexTech Systems and Microsoft, pages 88-89, 180, 261, 326, 333

"User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 784-786, 765-767

KBCategory: kbmacro
KBSubcategory: kbfield
Additional query words: 1.0 1.10 1.10a 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b
winword2 2.0c many numerous high memory limit limitation winword

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: July 30, 1997
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.