Weird File Open dialog problem in Word 2004

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To open a document in Word 2004 (using 10.5.1 on a C2D Macbook, all current updates for OS X and Office installed), I have to use the Finder, because when I use File>Open from within Word, the Open dialog is somehow broken. The file selection tree view seems to be infinitely wide, because I've tried to drag it dozens of screen widths to the left and right and can never reach the edges. I haven't tried reinstalling Office yet. I might try to hold out on that until Office 2008 comes out in 3 weeks. Although, if I can fix this issue, I might just stick with Office 2004.
 
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Solution to Weird problem opening file within Word

The preference file is corrupted. I found your description of the problem, which gave me courage to stick with tech support at Apple until I got a specialist who fixed it: in your Home file, go to Library, Preferences, then delete the file .com.microsoft.word.plist, and that should do it.
 
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The preference file is corrupted. I found your description of the problem, which gave me courage to stick with tech support at Apple until I got a specialist who fixed it: in your Home file, go to Library, Preferences, then delete the file .com.microsoft.word.plist, and that should do it.

If it works, that's an impressive first post!
 
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Having the same problem...Open dialog does not work, not fixed by deleting prefs

A few days ago, I started having the same problem--after using Word 2004 all day, every day (or at least every weekday) since the middle of 2005 when I upgraded to it from the prior version (on an older, pre-Intel G5; the current machine is an 8-core Mac Pro running OS 10.5.7), it suddenly came up with this problem. The very first thing I did was delete the Word preferences file. Then I deleted the Office preferences file. Then I repaired disk permissions. Then I shut down and restarted the machine (as opposed to simply doing a restart). Then, when none of that had any effect, I purchased and installed Word 2008, thinking that somehow the Word software was corrupted in some way. The problem remains. I can open documents from anywhere EXCEPT by using the OPEN menu dialog. When I attempt to open documents from the OPEN menu dialog, I get an infinitely wide screen with nothing on it but blank blue/white rows. None of the menus will work at this point, though I can escape from this dialog and Word will stay up and work normally (other than this issue, of course). ALSO, in a related issue, the FILE LOCATIONS dialog in Preferences does not work either. Same result as with the OPEN dialog if I try to Modify the locations of any of the different file types listed. Can anyone suggest something else to try???
 
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Need to use MS Office for reading/writing mass quantities of client files...also use it on Windows and need as much compatibility as is humanly possible on both platforms. There's got to be a way to get the app to work properly again...
 
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A few days ago, I started having the same problem--after using Word 2004 all day, every day (or at least every weekday) since the middle of 2005 when I upgraded to it from the prior version (on an older, pre-Intel G5; the current machine is an 8-core Mac Pro running OS 10.5.7), it suddenly came up with this problem. The very first thing I did was delete the Word preferences file. Then I deleted the Office preferences file. Then I repaired disk permissions. Then I shut down and restarted the machine (as opposed to simply doing a restart). Then, when none of that had any effect, I purchased and installed Word 2008, thinking that somehow the Word software was corrupted in some way. The problem remains. I can open documents from anywhere EXCEPT by using the OPEN menu dialog. When I attempt to open documents from the OPEN menu dialog, I get an infinitely wide screen with nothing on it but blank blue/white rows. None of the menus will work at this point, though I can escape from this dialog and Word will stay up and work normally (other than this issue, of course). ALSO, in a related issue, the FILE LOCATIONS dialog in Preferences does not work either. Same result as with the OPEN dialog if I try to Modify the locations of any of the different file types listed. Can anyone suggest something else to try???


DId you get a solution to your problem? I too am having the same problem with no fix ytd.
 
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Go to your Displays preferences pane. Make a note of what the Resolutions are set to. Open a Word file and the OPEN menu dialog. Now change resolutions until the image on the screen is smaller. If you can make it small enough to see the edge, resize it to be very narrow. Now restore your resolutions to what they were before. Size the dialog normally, and get out of Word. If that all worked, did it stick when you reopen Word?

P.S. As I was checking the Displays pane composing this, my Resolutions weirded out on me. They changed spontaneously! Very strange. It's sort of back to normal, but I'll have to keep an eye on it.
 
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Worked for me

The preference file is corrupted. I found your description of the problem, which gave me courage to stick with tech support at Apple until I got a specialist who fixed it: in your Home file, go to Library, Preferences, then delete the file .com.microsoft.word.plist, and that should do it.

I've had this exact issue for several weeks (since I fiddled with some settings I can't remember trying to speed up start-up) and hadn't been able to find the cause of the problem. This worked just fine for me. I found the file under Users/[my name]/Library/Preferences. I then deleted, and restarted Word and bingo, problem solved. If only life worked that way! Anyway, thanks for a very helpful post.
 
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Word 2004 File Menu Problem

The preference file is corrupted. I found your description of the problem, which gave me courage to stick with tech support at Apple until I got a specialist who fixed it: in your Home file, go to Library, Preferences, then delete the file .com.microsoft.word.plist, and that should do it.

Tried this, the file doesn't exist for me...
 
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Word 2004 Mac: File Open Problem

Go to your Displays preferences pane. Make a note of what the Resolutions are set to. Open a Word file and the OPEN menu dialog. Now change resolutions until the image on the screen is smaller. If you can make it small enough to see the edge, resize it to be very narrow. Now restore your resolutions to what they were before. Size the dialog normally, and get out of Word. If that all worked, did it stick when you reopen Word?

P.S. As I was checking the Displays pane composing this, my Resolutions weirded out on me. They changed spontaneously! Very strange. It's sort of back to normal, but I'll have to keep an eye on it.

Tried this also, didn't help...
 
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Word 2004 Mac File Open Problem

Hi,

I believe my problem started with upgrading to 2008, not liking it, and then reinstalling 2004 - what is weird is Excel works fine, it is simply a problem with Word - not opening and displaying a list of files/directories with the File > Open choice... not only does it show a blank single column file choice screen, but it also locks up Word - I have to go to Force Quit to quit Word - no other exit...

Help!
Michael
 
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Tried this, the file doesn't exist for me...

It absolutely does exist on every Mac running Office. Otherwise, you wouldn't be running Office.

There are several Library Folders. You have to be in the correct one:

HD/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences

You might have to go from there to /Microsoft - but you do have the com.microsoft....plist files.
 
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Fix for Word File > Open problem

It absolutely does exist on every Mac running Office. Otherwise, you wouldn't be running Office.

There are several Library Folders. You have to be in the correct one:

HD/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences

You might have to go from there to /Microsoft - but you do have the com.microsoft....plist files.

You are correct - not sure why I didn't see it previously - all fixed now - Thanks!
 

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