Temp files multiplying like rabbits.

[Top Spin]

For some reason, Word (2000) is creating large numbers of temp files.
Is there anything I can do to stop this behavior?

This morning, for example, I was working on a project that has a
number of files of various types (including 3-4 Word documents) in a
single folder. The Word documents are used to keep track of various
details about the project.

I opened two of the Word documents along with several of the other
files in their respective applications. Whenever I completed a peice
of work, I would make an entry in the relevant Word document and save
it (using Ctrl-S), leaving the Word document open.

As the morning progressed, I noticed that the number of temporary Word
files kept growing and growing. These are files with names like
~WRL0003.tmp. It looks like one is created every time I save the
document.

Thanks

 

[Top Spin]

For some reason, Word (2000) is creating large numbers of temp files.
Is there anything I can do to stop this behavior?

This morning, for example, I was working on a project that has a
number of files of various types (including 3-4 Word documents) in a
single folder. The Word documents are used to keep track of various
details about the project.

I opened two of the Word documents along with several of the other
files in their respective applications. Whenever I completed a peice
of work, I would make an entry in the relevant Word document and save
it (using Ctrl-S), leaving the Word document open.

As the morning progressed, I noticed that the number of temporary Word
files kept growing and growing. These are files with names like
~WRL0003.tmp. It looks like one is created every time I save the
document.

Actually, a new one is not created on EVERY save. Sometimes, one of
the existing ones is replaced (or renamed). That is, ~WRL1515.tmp was
just replaced by ~WRL0554.tmp

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

This is normal. All the files are (or should be) deleted when you close the
document. If you don't want to see them, set File Open to "All Word
Documents" instead of "All Files." One caveat: if you're low on RAM or HD
space, it's a good idea to close the document from time to time (to flush
the temp files) and reopen. But you can see why it is not advisable to save
a document directly to a floppy: Word always creates these temp files in the
default folder.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Top Spin]

This is normal.

Now that's depressing.

All the files are (or should be) deleted when you close the
document.

Yes, most of them are, most of the time.

If you don't want to see them, set File Open to "All Word
Documents" instead of "All Files."

I don't want to see them in the Explorer window. I already have Open
set to "All Word Documents" so I don't see them there.

As I said, I have a folder with a bunch of documents for various
applications open in Explorer. Word keep cluttering up that folder
making it harder to find things.

One caveat: if you're low on RAM or HD
space, it's a good idea to close the document from time to time (to flush
the temp files) and reopen.

Hey. The computer is supposed to be working for me, not the other way
around. Let it clean up its own temp files. Better yet, stop creating
them in the first place.

What useful purpose is there for multiple temp files that one wouldn't
serve just as well?

But you can see why it is not advisable to save
a document directly to a floppy: Word always creates these temp files in the
default folder.

Geez. Who cares about floppies. But that does bring up a good point.
Can I get Word to create the temp files in a temp folder? I have tons
of disk space and memory. I just don't want them in my working folder.

 

[Jay Freedman]

Unless the temp files remain after you close Word, this is working as
designed. Read this article:

How Word for Windows Uses Temporary Files
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=211632

If you shut down Word (or it crashes) and there are lots of temp files
left behind, see these:

What to do when Word crashes
http://www.gmayor.com/what_to_do_when_word_crashes.htm

I keep getting files that I am working on locked for editing. Word
only allows me to open them read-only
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/LockedFiles.htm

 

[Top Spin]

Unless the temp files remain after you close Word, this is working as
designed.

It's while Word is still open that I am complaining about. It sounds
like it is *broken* as designed.

Read this article:

How Word for Windows Uses Temporary Files
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=211632

OK, based on that article, I can see that Word may need more than one
temporary file. What I cannot understand is why it won't allow me to
specify a different location other than the current folder. I wold
even tolerate a temporary folder under the current folder. At least
then I would only have one extra entry in that folder.

 

[Tom Smith]

From the KB article:

<<Word gains significant performance speed by placing the temporary file in
the same directory as the saved file. If Word placed the temporary file
elsewhere, it would have to use the MS-DOS COPY command to move the
temporary file from the other directory to the saved location. By leaving
the temporary file in the same directory as the saved document file, Word
can use the MS-DOS MOVE command to quickly designate the temporary file as
the saved document.>>

Doesn't sound satisfactory for you, but at least there does seem to be a
reason . . . T

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Some find it amusing that MS admits to still using DOS commands even in
versions of Windows that are supposedly no longer built on DOS. <g>

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

From the KB article:

<<Word gains significant performance speed by placing the temporary file in
the same directory as the saved file. If Word placed the temporary file
elsewhere, it would have to use the MS-DOS COPY command to move the
temporary file from the other directory to the saved location. By leaving
the temporary file in the same directory as the saved document file, Word
can use the MS-DOS MOVE command to quickly designate the temporary file as
the saved document.>>

Doesn't sound satisfactory for you, but at least there does seem to be a
reason . . . T

 

[Top Spin]

From the KB article:

<<Word gains significant performance speed by placing the temporary file in
the same directory as the saved file. If Word placed the temporary file
elsewhere, it would have to use the MS-DOS COPY command to move the
temporary file from the other directory to the saved location. By leaving
the temporary file in the same directory as the saved document file, Word
can use the MS-DOS MOVE command to quickly designate the temporary file as
the saved document.>>

Doesn't sound satisfactory for you, but at least there does seem to be a
reason . . . T

OK, then why don't they make them hidden files or fix the file system
so that there is not the overhead of using (of all things) DOS
commands.

MSFT can give all the reasons they like. In my opinion, it's broke.
Bad design or bug. They can use whatever is left of their $50B savings
account after the EU finishes with them to hire better programmers or
architects.

 

[Top Spin]

Some find it amusing that MS admits to still using DOS commands even in
versions of Windows that are supposedly no longer built on DOS. <g>

Amusing wouldn't have been the first adjective to come to my mind...

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Are you sure they *aren't* hidden files? I wouldn't know, since I have
hidden files displayed, but ISTR that someone else has said that they are.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.