For Windows:

Answer: First open a new blank document in Word and try to use the EndNote commands.

If the error message does not come up in the new blank document check to see you if are trying to format a Word Template (*.DOT in Word 2000/XP/2003 and *.DOTM in Word 2007) instead of a Word document (*.DOC in Word 2000/XP/2003 and *.DOCX in Word 2007). To distinguish a document file from a template, locate the file in the Windows Explorer or My Computer. Right click on the icon for the file and click on Properties or click on File / Properties. The properties will describe the type of file.

To convert the template into a Word document, open the file in Word, choose “File...Save As...” and resave the file, being careful to specify "Word Document (*.DOC in Word 2000/XP/2003, and *.DOCX in Word 2007)" as the file type.

If the document you are working with is not a template but a Word document, it is possible that Word’s default document template (Normal.dot in 2000/XP/2003 or Normal.dotm on Word 2007) has become corrupted.

Quit Word, and in the Windows Explorer or My Computer drag Normal.DOT (or Normal.dotm on Word 2007) from the Templates folder onto the desktop and rename it to Normal.OLD. If you see any temporary files staring with ~$ in this location remove them as well.

The exact location of the Templates folder depends on your version of Word and your version of Windows.


Word 2000/XP/2003/2007 with Windows Vista: The default location of the Templates folder is:

C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates.

Note: The AppData folder is a hidden folder, if you do not see it, go to Tools/Folder Options/View and under Advanced Settings, choosing "Show Hidden Files and Folders." If you do not see the menu bar hold ALT to see the Tools Menu.


Word 2000/XP/2003/2007 with Windows 2000/XP: The default location of the Templates folder is:

C:\Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates.

Note: The Application Data folder is a hidden folder, if you do not see it, go to Tools/Folder Options/View and under Advanced Settings, choosing "Show Hidden Files and Folders."

Word 2000/XP with Windows 98/ME: The default location of the Templates folder is:

C:\Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates.

Word 97 with Windows: The default location of the Templates folder is:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Microsoft\Templates

When you restart Word, a new copy of Normal template will be created, and you can try to use the EndNote commands.

For Macintosh:

Answer: First open a new blank document in Word and try to use the EndNote commands.

If the error message does not come up in the new blank document check to see you if are trying to format a Word Template instead of a Word document. To distinguish a document file from a template, locate the file in the Finder and choose File / Get Info. The "Kind" of file will be either document or template. If the document is actually a template, then this error message will appear. To correct this problem, open the file in Word, choose “File...Save As...” and resave the file, being careful to specify "Word Document" as the kind of file to save.

If the document you are working with is not a template but a Word document, it is possible that Word’s default document template (Normal) has become corrupted.

Quit Word, and in the Finder drag Normal from the Templates folder onto the desktop. The exact location of the Templates folder depends on your version of Word.


Word 2008:
Users:[Your Login]:Library:Application Support:Microsoft:Office:User Templates.

Word 2004:
Users:[Your Login]:Documents:Microsoft User Data.

Word X:
Microsoft Office X:Templates.

Word 2001:
Microsoft Office 2001:Templates.

Word 98:
Microsoft Office 98:Template.


Rename Normal to AbNormal. After this, restart Word. This will cause Word to create a new Normal file. Now try to use the EndNote commands in a new document.

If you do not receive the error message in a new document you can try your original document.

If the error message still comes up in the new document, check to make sure Visual Basic is installed and functioning by selecting “Tools / Macro / Visual Basic Editor” to open the Visual Basic Editor.

If you receive a message such as “Could not load macro storage” or some other macro-related message, it is possible to force Word X and earlier to rebuild some of its Visual Basic preferences.

Quit Microsoft Word and locate the following files for your version of Word:

Word X
Temporarily move these extensions from the “Microsoft Office X:Office” folder:

• MS Component Library (Carbon)
• MS OLE Automation (Carbon)
• MS OLE Library (Carbon)
• MS Structured Storage (Carbon)

• Microsoft Component Library
• Microsoft OLE Automation
• Microsoft OLE Library
• Microsoft Structured Storage
• PPC Registration Database (may not be present)

• Embedding Preferences
• PPC Registration Database
• Registration Database
• Word Settings (9) (This particular file should be found inside the “Microsoft” folder, inside the “Preferences” folder.)

• Microsoft Component Library
• Microsoft OLE Automation
• Microsoft OLE Library
• Microsoft Structured Storage
• PPC Registration Database (may not be present)

• Embedding Preferences
• PPC Registration Database
• Registration Database
• Word Settings (8)