WD97: After Save As, Original Doc Unavailable to Other Programs

ID: Q146506

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Word 97, when you use the Save As command to save a Rich Text Format (RTF) document with a different file name or in a different file format, the original document cannot be opened in another program until the file with the new name or format is closed.

For example, if you save a document called Test.rtf as Test2.rtf, Word closes Test.rtf. However, if you try to open Test.rtf in another program, such as WordPad, the following error message will appear:

   The document Test.rtf is in use by another application and cannot be
   accessed.

CAUSE

Word 97 does not release the temporary file lock on RTF files when you save the document as a new file.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, obtain Microsoft Word 97 Service Release 2 (SR-2).

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Office 97 Service Release 2 (SR-2).

For additional information about SR-2, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q151261
        TITLE: OFF97: How to Obtain and Install MS Office 97 SR-2

Additional query words: lock file handle release remains open

Keywords          : kbinterop kbdta kbconversion 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

Last Reviewed: May 12, 1999