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My custom autocorrect entries were deleted by Online Repair, and autocorrect replace entries don't automatically get added

Anonymous
2020-07-16T16:38:40+00:00

I was suggested to do an Online Repair for some minor problem, which I did, not being aware that it consisted of deleting and reinstalling all of Office, and that it would delete my macros, keyboard shortcuts, normal.dotm, and some but not all other customizations. 

After finding that the autocorrect did not work well I downloaded Editor from Chrome Store not realizing I already had it, then deleted it when I did (probably doesn't matter but mentioning just in case).

  • it is my understanding that the way autocorrect works is that when you right-click on an underlined word and choose a suggestion, which is added as an entry in autocorrect, that automatically replaces that word given that is the setting you chose.
    • my custom autocorrect replace entries no longer exist in the menu.
      • it has about a hundred autocorrect entries--are these here by default?
      • searching for the autocorrect entries file in the windows search bar or file explorer using C:\Users%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Office\*.acl brings up no results.
      • searching for the custom dictionary file in the windows search bar or file explorer using C:\Users%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Uproof\Custom.dic brings up a notepad file empty except for my username typed out at the top
      • searching C:\Users%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Quick Styles\*.dotx brings up no results like the first search, even though I still have all of my custom styles.
      • ---------my custom autocorrect exception entries, for both initial capitals and other corrections, still exist.---------
    • Though I've turned off "hide spelling errors" and "hide grammar errors", all markups are hidden until I click Editor (which does not prompt me to turn on these settings because they're already turned on). After I do this and I x out of Editor the autocorrect stays visible and right-clickable.
    • When I right-click an underlined word and choose the suggestion, it does not get added to the autocorrect entries in the menu, even though I have the correct language, and even after I restart the app.

Problems in bold

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | Windows

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  1. Suzanne S Barnhill 277.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2020-07-18T23:30:24+00:00

    I don't think it does unless you explicitly add it. You could, of course, test this.

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  2. Charles Kenyon 167.1K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2020-07-17T23:13:13+00:00

    I believe that 7/15 11:23 is also the precise date I downloaded an add-in (Linguix) (which I eventually deleted), trying to find something to substitute Word's defunct replace-as-you-type function, back when this could have been caused by being on the English (United Kingdom) language. Is it possible an add-in could delete custom autocorrect replace entries?

    It is certainly possible that an Add-In could delete autocorrect files. I could see one designed to replace AutoCorrect doing that. This would be irresponsible, but that does not make it impossible or even that unlikely.

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  3. Stefan Blom 340.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2020-07-16T20:59:52+00:00

    No, of course I'm not suggesting that you should check the time stamp on deleted files, which wouldn't be possible.

    However, if you do find *.acl files left behind in some folder you can check their time stamps.

    Your screen shot does display *.acl files with different date stamps. The files are different sizes too.

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  4. Stefan Blom 340.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2020-07-16T20:31:46+00:00

    [...] entries aren't automatically getting added to autocorrect for me.  

    The way I understand the "Automatically use suggestions from the spelling checker" feature is as follows: When spellcheck identifies an error and you choose a replacement suggested by the built-in spelling dictionary, the incorrect word and its replacement will be added as an AutoCorrect entry.

    If this isn't working, I suggest that you click File > Feedback > Send a Frown and report it to Microsoft.

    Personally, I never keep the "Automatically use suggestions..." option selected, because I prefer to be in control over which items are added as AutoCorrect entries.

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  5. Charles Kenyon 167.1K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2020-07-16T17:18:28+00:00

    I can't address everything you ask about. Sorry.

    Autocorrect can be backed up. Here are two free utilities:

    I have never heard of AutoCorrect being deleted in an Online repair. That has never happened to me.

    The proofing language issue is tangentially related. AutoCorrect does rely on the proofing language. See Proofing Language Keeps Changing - Solutions - How can I keep my proofing language from changing? by Charles Kenyon

    Your old entries may still be there. Unformatted entries will be in .acl files in language folders.

    Word 2007 & Later Key Data File Locations

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