WD: Word Assistant Tips and Tips Back/Next Buttons Not Available

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you click the Word Assistant, the Tips button may be unavailable (dimmed). If the Tips button is available, clicking the button displays a tip. In the Office Assistant tip balloon are Back and Next buttons. These buttons may be unavailable.

This article explains why the Tips and the Next and Back buttons may be unavailable.

CAUSE

The Office Assistant Tips Button Is Dimmed

When you click the Word Assistant, the Tips button will be dimmed if there are no tips to be displayed. Performing an action that causes Word to generate a tip makes this button available. For example, to cause Word to generate a tip, follow these steps:

1. In a new document type "The word terst is misspelled."

2. On the tools menu click Spelling And Grammar.

3. Accept the word "test" in the Suggestions list of the Spelling and Grammar dialog box.

4. Click Change.

5. If the Office Assistant is not displayed, click the Office Assistant button (on the Standard toolbar).

6. Click the Office Assistant.

7. The Tips button should now be available.

8. Click the Tips button.

The Tips Back and Next Button Are Dimmed

The Back and Next buttons on the Tip balloon may be dimmed because there is only one tip to display.

Word stores all tips generated within a session of Word. If at any time you want to review tips generated during a particular session of Word, you can use the Back or Next button.

When you exit and restart Word, the tips available in the previous session of Word are no longer available and the tips button will again be dimmed.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about tips, click the Office Assistant, type "Tips," click Search, and then click to view "Get Help, tips, and messages through the Office Assistant."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component