"Clock On Top" Interferes with Word Examples and Demos

• Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0
• Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1

SYMPTOMS

If you set the Microsoft Windows Clock to appear on top of other windows, it may interfere when you run one of the Word for Windows examples or demonstrations (collectively referred to as "demos" in this article). For instance, if a mouse click in a demo occurs over the Clock, the Clock may become the active application window, thereby disrupting the Word demo.

CAUSE

Any application that runs on top of a Word demo window can disrupt the demo if the application lies over a location where a mouse click occurs. If you reactivate the demo window, it continues running as usual, without problems.

WORKAROUND

The workaround depends on what portion of the Word demo is covered by the Clock window. You can usually resume the demo by pressing ENTER several times, or by choosing the Next or Close button in the demo (if either is available). To avoid repeating the problem, after you exit the Examples And Demos session, close the Clock or turn off the Always On Top option before you restart.

The following is a specific workaround for the What's New demo:

What's New Demo

If you position the Clock over the line-drawing tool in the lower left corner of the What's New demo, the Clock is activated about halfway through the demo, and the background screen of the demo disappears. If you press ENTER, the Clock enlarges, and the demo keys do not work. To resume the demo, choose the Next button, or choose the Close button to exit the demo.

STATUS

We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.