WordArt 2.0 Does Not Auto-Register Itself in REG.DAT

 Last reviewed: February 20, 1998
Article ID: Q107437
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft WordArt, version 2.0
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0
  • Microsoft Publisher for Windows, version 2.0
  • Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1

SUMMARY

Microsoft WordArt 2.0, an OLE server application packaged with Microsoft Word 6.0 for Windows and Microsoft Publisher 2.0, will not automatically register itself as an OLE server in the Windows Registration Database (REG.DAT). You may receive one of the following error messages: 

   Newsletter cannot run the WordArt program and will be
   unable to add the WordArt text it needs to.

   -or-

   Cannot launch or communicate with server application.
If your REG.DAT file becomes damaged and needs to be rebuilt, you will have to manually register the WordArt 2.0 application by merging the WINDOWS\MSAPPS\WORDART\WORDART2.REG file into REG.DAT using the File Manager or REGEDIT editor.

MORE INFORMATION

Most OLE 2.0 server applications when launched will check the status of their registration in the Windows Registration Database and will correct or update it if necessary. If WordArt 2.0 is not properly registered, when you choose Microsoft WordArt 2.0 from the Insert Object dialog box, you will receive an error message stating that the server application cannot be found.

To remedy this situation, do the following:

  1. In the File Manager, from the File menu, choose Search.

  2. In the Search For field, type "*.REG" (without the quotation marks).

  3. Search your Windows program directory (usually, C:\WINDOWS) including subdirectories.

  4. In the Search Results box, find the file: 

          <path>\MSAPPS\WORDART\WORDART2.REG.

  5. If the <path> is C:\WINDOWS, skip to step 8. If the path is not listed as C:\WINDOWS, write down the listed path.

  6. Start any text editor and open the WORDART2.REG file.

  7. Find the two instances of C:\WINDOWS\MSAPPS\WORDART\WORDART2.EXE and replace them with the correct path. Save and close the file.

  8. In the File Manager, double-click the WORDART2.REG file. This action will merge the .REG file into the registration database. Choose OK in the resulting Info box.

After this procedure, if WordArt 2.0 still does not start, you may need to rebuild your registration database (REG.DAT) file. For information on rebuilding your REG.DAT, query on the following keywords: 

   reg.dat and winword and rebuild
For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q122418
   TITLE     : Error Inserting Object After Registering Application

   ARTICLE-ID: Q122188
   TITLE     : WordArt 2 Error: "Unable to Launch or Communicate with server"

Additional query words: 6.00
Keywords : kbtool
Version : windows:2.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Hardware : x86
Issue type : kbprb

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Last reviewed: February 20, 1998
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