For Windows:

Answer: First open a new blank document in Word and try to use the EndNote Web 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 2003 and *.DOTM in Word 2007) instead of a Word document (*.DOC in Word 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 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 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.

The location of the Templates folder is usually:

Windows 2000 and XP:
C:\Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates.

Windows Vista and 7:
C:\Users\[User Name]›\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates

(The Application Data folder is a hidden folder, and it may be necessary to make Windows show the folder by going to Tools/Folder Options/View and under Advanced Settings, choosing “Show Hidden Files and Folders.” In Windows Vista or 7 if you do not see the menu bar hold ALT to see the Tools Menu.)
When you restart Word, a new copy of Normal.DOT (or Normal.dotm on Word 2007) will be created, and you can try to use the EndNote Web commands.

For Macintosh:

Answer: First open a new blank document in Word and try to use the EndNote Web 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 and how your version of Microsoft Office was installed.

For Word 2004 it is Users:[Your Login]:Documents:Microsoft User Data.
For Word 2008 it is Users:[Your Login]:Library:Application Support:Microsoft:Office:User Templates.


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.