Zedex and Microsoft Word 6.0

Don't you just hate it when someone has changed the desktop of Word.  Toolbars are missing or moved. The default type has changed, etc.  Well, with Zedex, everyone can have their own settings and list of most recent files.

Here's what to do.

While on one of the peer workstations:

Make sure that the toolbar and default settings are the standard settings that most will want. Make sure that "prompt to save normal.dot" is selected. You will find it under Tools - Options - Save tab.   Exit from Word (this will cause the settings to be written to winword.opt (this might be called winword.ini on some versions) and normal.dot.

Using Zedex, log off.

Using File Manager, copy the file, winword.opt and normal.dot, from the winword directory to all_file on Z:\

Use Notepad to open the file winword6.ini which can be found in the windows directory.

Change these settings:
ini-path=c:\winword   ( or what ever it is)
user-dot-path=c:\winword

To:
ini-path=z:\    (or ini-path=\\zedex\)
user-dot-path=z:\    (or user-dot-path=\\zedex\)
don't forget that the doc-path should read doc-path=z:\
Save the file

•  
  • Note: You can change these settings using Options on Word, however, some versions of Word will correct the path to be the complete path at the time you modify the settings. The complete path will prevent reaching individual preferences, because each user's complete path is different.

Now, on the Zedex Server:
While using File Manager or Explorer on the Zedex server,  copy the files winword.opt and normal.dot from all-file to every user's directory.

Finally on each peer workstation, change the winword6.ini  to point to the Z: drive (as you did on the first peer workstation).

Now you are done. Every user who logs on using Zedex will get and keep their own settings.

If you don't want the winword.opt or normal.dot  to show up on each user's file list on Zedex, then put them in a folder and copy that folder to each user. Change the ini-path and user-dot-path to read =z:\foldername. You could even put these files inside the Netscape profile folder if you wish (a time saver if you do this before you set up Netscape).

Notice:

• When any user runs Word, they will pick up the settings off the current  Zedex directory, and when they close Word, Word will save any changes to the current Zedex directory.  Therefore if they change the directory they are logged onto while Word is running, they will change the settings of the file current at the time Word closes.  Therefore, I suggest that you make winword.opt and normal.dot on all-file (only)  read-only.  This will prevent changes to the all_file preferences.  It will also cause some annoying dialogue boxes to appear when Word closes while logged onto all-file.  This will soon encourage users to log on to their own file first, so that they don't have to deal with those boxes. Making sure that "prompt to save normal.dot" has been selected because it will reduce unnecessary overwrites.

  However, Zedex is set to prevent users from changing to other users while Netscape or Word are running. Sometimes selecting Reset will override this and personal preferences may be lost.  The X:\ drive is made available for those that need to get to a different user/directory, without losing personal preferences.

  VIRUS PROTECTION
  Unique about this Zedex setup is that some Word viruses are prevented from spreading to other users.  This is  because each user has a separate normal.dot template and normal.dot on all_file is read-only.  Deleting a user's Word documents and replacing their normal.dot template may be all that is necessary to clear up the virus.