Knowledge Base

WD98: Some Menu Commands Unavailable (Document Protection)

Article ID: 180024

Article Last Modified on 10/4/2002

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q180024

SYMPTOMS

Under certain conditions, you may be unable to access all of the commands in Word, or you may be unable to move the insertion point to certain areas of the document.

NOTE: Unavailable menu commands are dimmed on the Word menus. Keyboard commands that you use to edit or format text and graphics are also unavailable.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if document protection is enabled. The "More Information" section of this document lists commands that are unavailable when document protection is enabled.

NOTE: It is possible to customize all of the menus, keyboard commands, and so forth, with AutoNew macros. Also, add-in products (such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Microsoft Bookshelf) modify menu choices.

Customization may also produce the behavior described in the "Symptoms" section of this article.

WORKAROUND

To gain access to all of the menu commands and areas of a document, unprotect the document.

To unprotect a document, click Unprotect Document on the Tools menu.

MORE INFORMATION

To protect a Word document for tracked changes, comments, or forms, follow these steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Protect Document.
  2. Click either Tracked Changes, Comments, or Forms, and then click OK.
The following table lists which commands are unavailable when your document is protected.

Protected for Forms in a Protected Section

   Menu           Unavailable
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   File           Page Setup

                  NOTE: Properties is available; however, you cannot make
                  changes to the document properties as they are
                  unavailable.

   Edit           All commands are unavailable except Cut, Copy, Paste,
                  Clear, Go To, Publishing

   View           Outline, Master Document, Header And Footer, Footnotes,
                  Comments

   Insert         All commands are unavailable except AutoText, Picture

   Format         All commands are unavailable except Background

                  NOTE: Background is available; however, the options under
                  Background are not available

   Font           All fonts are unavailable

   Tools          All commands are unavailable except Language,
                  AutoCorrect, Track Changes, Unprotect Document, Macro,
                  Preferences

   Table          All commands are unavailable except Gridlines

Protected for Forms in an Unprotected Section

   Menu           Unavailable
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   File           Page Setup

                  NOTE: Properties is available, however you cannot make
                  changes to the document properties as they are
                  unavailable.

   Edit           All commands are unavailable except Repeat, Paste,
                  Paste Special, Clear, Find, Replace, Go To, Publishing

   View           Outline, Master Document, Header And Footer, Footnotes,
                  Comments

   Insert         Page Numbers, Comment, Footnote, Caption,
                  Cross-Reference, Index And Tables, Text Box, Movie, File,
                  Bookmark

   Format         Document, Bullets And Numbering, Borders And Shading,
                  Drop Cap, Text Direction, AutoFormat, Style Gallery,
                  Format AutoShape/Picture

                  NOTE: Background is available; however, the options under
                  Background are not available.

   Font           All fonts are available

   Tools          Word Count, AutoSummarize, Merge Documents, Mail Merge,
                  Envelopes And Labels, Letter Wizard, Templates And
                  Add-Ins, Customize

   Table          All commands are available as in a normal Word document.
                  If no table is selected in the unprotected section, then
                  only Insert Table, Formula, and Gridlines are available.

                  If a table is selected in an unprotected section, then
                  all commands are available except Draw Table and Sort.

Protected for Tracked Changes

   Menu           Unavailable
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   File           All commands are available

                  NOTE: Properties is available, however you cannot make
                  changes to the document properties as they are
                  unavailable.

   Edit           Paste As Hyperlink, Links

   View           Footnotes, Comments

   Insert         All commands are available

   Format         Text Direction

   Font           All fonts are available

   Tools          All commands are available

   Table          If no table is selected, then only Draw Table, Insert
                  Table, Sort, Formula, and Gridlines are available.

                  If a table is selected, then all commands are available.

Protected for Comments

   Menu           Unavailable
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   File           Page Setup

                  NOTE: Properties is available; however, you cannot make
                  changes to the document properties as they are
                  unavailable.

   Edit           All commands are unavailable except Repeat, Copy,
                  Select All, Find, Replace, Go To, Publishing

   View           Footnotes, Comments

   Insert         All commands are unavailable except AutoText, Comment,
                  Picture

   Format         All commands are unavailable except Background

                  NOTE: Background is available, however the options under
                  Background are not available.

   Font           All fonts are unavailable

   Tools          Spelling And Grammar, Word Count, Auto Summarize, Mail
                  Merge, Envelopes And Labels, Letter Wizard

   Table          If no table is selected, then only Gridlines is
                  available.

                  If a table is selected, then all commands are unavailable
                  except Select Row, Select Column, Select Table, Headings,
                  Gridlines

Additional query words: dim dimmed grey greyed gray grayed out not available disabled

Keywords: kbprb KB180024


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