Repeated error "Word cannot open this document template. ( )"; Word for Mac OS X version 16.10 (180210)

Question

I'm trying to fix a separate problem, Math Autocorrect inexplicably changes my font from default to Asian font "SimSun". In the process, I go to menu > Tools > AutoCorrect. I get the subject message.

I have quit Word and all Office programs and removed this file:

/Users / (my user) / Library / Group Containers / UBF8T346G9.Office / User Content / Templates / Normal.dotm

and then re-started Word. I go back into Tools > AutoCorrect, get the message (expected); quit Word, and see that it recreated the Normal.dotm.

However, I still get the error message the first time that I access it, every time I launch Word. That is, if I go into AutoCorrect a second time in the same session, I don't get the error. If I quit Word and restart, I get the error once again.

I also still have the problem with SimSun fonts.

Answer 1

I moved those files to the desktop. Restarted Word.

Got this opening message:

Problem persists. Details:

Opened an existing document from OneDrive.

Accessed menu > Tools > AutoCorrect. Got this dialog:

Closed dialog; got AutoCorrect dialog; closed it; closed document. Opened new doc; menu > Tools > AutoCorrect; no dialog about template.

Closed Word & relaunched; opened new doc; menu > Tools > AutoCorrect. Got dialog about template.

Repeated with another existing doc; same result.

So it's the same pattern: first time accessing menu > Tools > AutoCorrect within any Word session pops up the message about the template.

Before I go through the hassle of reinstalling, what about this? I went into Preferences > File Locations:

The path to the User Templates is in this screen shot:

, that is, ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Templates.

Is that right?

Could the problem be that "Workgroup templates" is not defined? Just my thoughts; I'm no expert.

Answer 2

Hi Donald,

Please move the following files to desktop and check if the issue still exists. If the issue persists, you can move the files back to the original location.

~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.Word.plist

~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/MicrosoftRegistrationDB.reg

If the suggestion above doesn’t work, please refer to this article to completely uninstall Office and reinstall Office from www.office.com.

Regards,

Joshua

Answer 3

I restarted in Safe Mode. The error persists.

OS version:

System Version: OS X 10.11.4 (15E65)

  Kernel Version: Darwin 15.4.0

  Boot Volume: Macintosh HD

  Boot Mode: Safe

Screen shot attached.

When did it start: I don't remember, but I believe it began more recently than the SimSun font issue. Microsoft Word occasionally "quits unexpectedly" or "stops responding" (and I force quit it), so one of those might have caused it.

Where would I look for a history of OS updates of MS Office updates?

And just in case you are curious about Login items, here are mine (although I assume that the Safe Mode eliminated those as a possible cause):

Answer 4

To: Joshua Zhang MSFT

I have posted a new question as you suggest here: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/newthread?threadtype=Questions&cancelurl=%2Fen-us%2Fsite%2Fstartsignin%3FpageUrl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fanswers.microsoft.com%252Fthreadauth%252Fd1f9837a-9544-4fae-be01-9a5590d29cbe%252Fmessages%252Fa2730629-62c6-4f56-b570-cd638f6112af

Answer 5

Hi Donald,

To help us better handle the issue, let’s focus on the template error issue. Regarding the SimSun fonts, please monitor the original thread, our support engineer will post back if there is any update.

Please start Mac in safe mode and run Word alone, check if the error message issue still exists. This may help us determine if the issue is related to incompatible login items.

If the issue persists, to help us clarify your scenario, please provide some more information:

1. What’s your OS version?
2. A screenshot of the error message to help us better understand your situation.
3. When does the issue begin? (e.g. after you update Office or OS)

Regards,

Joshua