WD97: Error Message: "Word Cannot Give a Document the Same Name"

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Word 97, you may receive the following error message:

   Word cannot give a document the same name as an open document.
   Type a different name for the document you want to save.
   (<path>\filename)

This error may occur with large documents if you select the following options on the Save tab (click Options on the Tools menu):

• Allow Fast Saves

  -and-

• Allow Background Saves

  -and-

• Save AutoRecover info every <n> minutes

CAUSE

This error may occur when you attempt to save a document, while Word is performing an automatic background save. Both save processes are trying to save information to the same file name.

WORKAROUND

To prevent this error message from occurring, allow the automatic background save to complete before you save your document.

NOTE: When Word saves a document in the background, a pulsing disk icon appears on the status bar.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

REFERENCES

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q89247
   TITLE     : How Word for Windows Uses Temporary Files

   ARTICLE-ID: Q71999
   TITLE     : How to Disable the FastSave Option in Word For Windows

   ARTICLE-ID: Q107686
   TITLE     : How Word Creates and Recovers AutoRecover Files

   ARTICLE-ID: Q170350
   TITLE     : Troubleshooting Errors During AutoSave for AutoRecovery