WD2000: Some Menu Commands Unavailable (Document Protection)

ID: Q211333


The information in this article applies to:


SYMPTOMS

Under certain conditions, you may be unable to access all of the commands in Word, or you may be unable to move the insertion point to certain areas of the document.

NOTE: Menu commands that are not available appear grayed or dimmed on the Word menus. Keyboard commands that edit or format text and graphics are also unavailable.


CAUSE

This problem occurs if document protection is enabled. The "More Information" section of this document lists commands that are unavailable when document protection is enabled.

NOTE: It is possible to customize all of the menus, keyboard commands, and so forth, with AutoNew macros. Also, add-in products (such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Microsoft Bookshelf) modify menu choices.

Customization may also produce the behavior described in the "Symptoms" section of this article.


WORKAROUND

To gain access to all of the menu commands and areas of a document, unprotect the document.

To unprotect a document, click Unprotect Document on the Tools menu.


MORE INFORMATION

To protect a Word document for tracked changes, comments, or forms, follow these steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Protect Document.


  2. Click Tracked Changes, Comments, or Forms, and then click OK.


The following table lists the commands that are unavailable when your document is protected:

Protected for Forms in a Protected Section


   Menu           Unavailable
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------

   File           Page Setup.

NOTE: Properties is available; however, you cannot make changes to the
document properties.


   Edit           All commands are unavailable except Go To.

   View           Outline, Header and Footer, Footnotes, Comments.

   Insert         All commands are unavailable except AutoText, Picture.

   Format         All commands are unavailable except Background, Frames.


NOTE: Background is available; however, the options under Background are not available.


   Tools          All commands are unavailable except Language,
                  AutoCorrect, Track Changes, Unprotect Document, Macro,
                  Options.


   Table          All commands are unavailable except Hide/Show Gridlines. 

Protected for Forms in an Unprotected Section


   Menu           Unavailable
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------


   File           Page Setup.


NOTE: Properties is available; however, you cannot make changes to the
document properties.


   Edit           All commands are unavailable except Repeat, Paste,
                  Paste Special, Clear, Find, Replace, Go To.


   View           Outline, Master Document, Header and Footer, Footnotes,
                  Comments.


   Insert         Page Numbers, Comment, Footnote, Caption,
                  Cross-reference, Index and Tables, Text Box, Bookmark.


   Format         Bullets and Numbering, Borders and Shading, Drop Cap,
                  Text Direction, AutoFormat, Format AutoShape/Picture.


NOTE: Background is available, however the options under Background are not available.


   Tools          Word Count, AutoSummarize, Merge Documents, Mail Merge,
                  Envelopes and Labels, Letter Wizard, Templates and
                  Add-Ins, Customize.


   Table          All commands are available as in a normal Word document.


If no table is selected in the unprotected section, then only Insert Table,
Formula, and Hide/Show Gridlines are available.


If a table is selected in an unprotected section, then all commands are
available except Draw Table and Sort. 

Protected for Tracked Changes


   Menu           Unavailable
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------


   File           All commands are available.


NOTE: Properties is available; however, you cannot make changes to the
document properties because they are unavailable.


   Edit           Paste as Hyperlink, Links, Object.


   View           Footnotes, Comments.


   Insert         All commands are available.


   Format         Text Direction.


   Tools          All commands are available.


   Table          If no table is selected, then only Draw Table, Insert
                  Table, Sort, Formula, Hide/Show Gridlines are available.


                  If a table is selected, then all commands are available. 

Protected for Comments


   Menu           Unavailable
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------


   File           Page Setup.

NOTE: Properties is available; however, you cannot make changes to the
document properties.


   Edit           All commands are unavailable except Repeat, Copy,
                  Select All, Find, Replace, Go To.

   View           Footnotes, Comments.


   Insert         All commands are unavailable except AutoText, Comment,
                  Picture.

   Format         All commands are unavailable except Background, Frames.


NOTE: Background is available; however, the options under Background are not available.


   Tools          Spelling & Grammar, Language, Word Count,
                  AutoSummarize, Mail Merge, Envelopes And
                  Labels, Letter Wizard.


   Table          If no table is selected, then only Hide/Show Gridlines
                  is available.


If a table is selected, then all commands are unavailable except Select
Row, Select Column, Select Table, Headings, Hide/Show Gridlines. 

Additional query words: dim dimmed grey greyed gray grayed out not available disabled


Keywords          : kbui kbform wd2000 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb 

Last Reviewed: May 13, 1999