WD98: Troubleshooting OLE Server Issues in Microsoft Word 98

• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

The following are OLE issues that you may encounter in Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition:

• The OLE server object is not available in the Object dialog box (on the Insert menu, click Object).

      -or-
  

• You receive the following OLE server error message:

        The server application, source file, or item cannot be found. Make
        sure the application is properly installed, and that it has not been
        deleted, moved, or renamed.
  

  -or-

• You are unable to edit an OLE object that exists in a document.

WORKAROUND

To troubleshoot OLE issues in Word 98, use the following workarounds in the order specified. After you try a workaround, test the OLE application to see if the problem is resolved.

Method 1: Reinstall the OLE Application That Is Having the Problem

This is the preferred method to ensure proper registration. Because Office 98 Macintosh Edition does not include a maintenance mode Setup option, you will need to run the Installer to reinstall the server application. Once the installation is complete, the server application is re-registered.

For information about a method for reinstalling OLE applications, For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q179217
   TITLE     : OFF98: Using First Run Installation to Troubleshoot Mac
               Office

Method 2: Double-click the OLE Server Application

Double-clicking the server application forces it to start, at which point it is registered. Most of the OLE applications are located in the Microsoft Office 98:Office folder.

An error message may be displayed informing you that the server application must be started from within a program. If the error message does occur, allow the server application to run, quit it, and then try running it from within Microsoft Word 98.

Method 3: Delete the Office Registration Cache File

The Office Registration Cache file is new to Office 98 Macintosh Edition. This file, which contains OLE registration information about the Office 98 programs, is located in the System:Preferences folder. It is a combination of information from the Settings file and the Registration Database files.

This file allows you to re-register Office programs without deleting the registration databases. (You should always try to delete the Office Registration Cache file before you try to delete the Registration Database files.)

Method 4: Delete the Registration and PPC Registration Database Files

A last resort method for resolving Office 98 OLE server issues is to delete the Registration Database and PPC Registration Database files. Do not delete these files if you are having trouble with only a single OLE server application. These files contain Registration information for non-Office programs as well.

CAUTION: You should always make a back-up copy of these files before you delete them.

When you install a program, Setup registers it in the Registration Database and the PPC Registration Database files. These files are located in the System:Preferences folder. The Registration Database and the PPC Registration Database files also contain information about OLE 2.0 functionality.

NOTE: The Embedding Preferences file contains information regarding OLE 1.0 functionality. If you delete either the Registration Database, the PPC Registration Database, or the Embedding Preferences file, the system recreates the file when you start an OLE 1.0 or OLE 2.0 program.

MORE INFORMATION

Rebuilding the Registration Database files will have the following effects:

• The ClipArt Gallery is not registered and will therefore be unavailable from PowerPoint. To work around this problem, re-install PowerPoint.
• The Custom dictionary will be missing from Word. To re-establish the Custom dictionary, click Preferences on the Tools menu, click the Spelling And Grammar tab. Click Dictionaries, click Add, browse to the correct folder, and select the Custom dictionary. Click Open and then click OK.