I renamed the folder "Word" in the string below. This did not change the problem, but now I seem to have caused another problem. When I click on AppData I get the message "Location is unavailable ... access is denied". Oh dear! I have googled the error, but not sure of what fix to try. Perhaps I should first have clarified which folder exactly I should have renamed, I apologise. I have access to all other files in general, including my Word files.





C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word \ListGal.dat

Do you have access to %Username% where "username" is your user name?

You can open and use Word, correct?

The "Word" folder that contains list.gal also contains some recover files.
If you rename the folder and start Word nothing happens except that if you do something that requires that folder, Word will recreate it. If, in a new document, you insert a multilevel list, the folder will be recreated with a new list.gal file.

In your document, you have one custom style named "Heading."
You have attempted to attach different aliases or shortcuts to that style.

When, in a style name, you use a comma, you are giving the style an additional name that can be used. So:

• Heading,1
• Heading,3
• Heading,2
• Heading,4

are all the same "Heading" style. These are not different styles and they do not have the special attributes that go with the built-in Heading styles.

If you need to create your own custom heading styles, do not use commas in the name. The following names would be separate, different, styles.

• My Heading 1, mh1
• My Heading 2, mh2
• My Heading 3, mh3
• My Heading 4, mh4

They can be called by either of the two names assigned to each style. That is, "My Heading 3" can also be called using the name "mh3."

However, first, look at Why use Microsoft Word’s built-in heading styles? by Shauna Kelly

Yes, I can go as far as C:\Users\Richard but then get blocked on the next step \AppData. However, my Word program is functioning normally except for the Styles.

Your explanation is helpful and makes sense, thank you. Except that in this instance I did not try and create my own custom heading. I have created custom styles which I have given a completely new name to and with no comma. I have never tried to rename an existing style. The odd thing is that it does that with every style that I click on so no style is able to be used because it immediately becomes faulty.


I am an academic editor so I use styles all the time for layout purposes. If I take a file that I have already applied styles to, I can see that they are all still functional when I open the file. I can update the table of contents so the previously applied styles are still stable. But if I want to change a level of heading, or add a new heading with a style, then that heading will be corrupt as it were and I cannot do any work to apply styles.



Is it possible for this aberation to have "crept in" as it were? Another possible explanation which strikes me now is that the day before this happened I took my computer to a company to re-install medical claims software because I had changed from a hard drive to an SSD drive, and they need to run the software via Microsoft SQL etc. which was then also installed. Is it possible for something they did to upset the styles? I did use my computer after that and it was fine on the first file I worked on and then after I closed that and started on another file I noticed the problem. One other thing to consider is that the file I worked on first arrived via Dropbox and I worked on it in Word because that is how it opened, but saved it straight back into Dropbox.



Whatever the case, it is possible to stop the process of the extra comma being added as if it is a short cut etc.?

I cannot tell you how the comma is being added since I am not looking over your shoulder. Word does not have a built-in style named "Heading." It has a set of nine built-in heading styles with sequential numbering.

There should not be a style named "Heading."

The style may be in a common template used for your documents. It may have been added inadvertently to your normal template.

The example I posted was a new file I created for the occasion. The so-called heading styles that you could see appeared as a result of clicking on Style number in the Style ribbon. In a document like that I click on "Heading 2" then:
a) that style is not placed on the item
b) there is an instant production of "Heading,2" from within the system. "Heading 2" is unreachable.

c) if I open that file up on another computer I can see the defective heading styles in the drop down menu, but I can overide them from Styles in the the Word ribbon of the other computer.



It is not that a style called "Heading" (which does not exist anyway) is being altered to "Heading,2". It is the existing style "Heading 2" which is being altered by the insertion of a comma. There is some error in the Style file which is introducing the error. It certainly is not being introduced by me.

Try opening Word is safe mode.
Open Office apps in safe mode on a Windows PC - Microsoft Office

I really have no idea on what is happening with your doc.

What happens if you apply the heading style by pressing Alt-Shift-Left Arrow?
Is your Style options set to show the built-in name when an alias exists?
Can you post a document that contains those styles?

__________________
Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia

This made no difference to the problem

How to attach a file in this forum.

Wow the keyboard shortcut approach worked! Fantastic!! I admit I had to Google your suggestion because I did not know what you meant by it, but I came across a very helpful site 10 Great Keyboard Shortcuts for Microsoft Word Styles Users



Attached is a document in which I played around a bit with the styles and explained what I had found. The issue seems to be with the ribbon pathway rather than with the Styles themselves. However, I created a new style using the “Create a style” option, which works fine! Does not produce an error!



I have googled "built-in name" etc. but have not quite yet figured out what that means, but for now I am happy that I can use my styles, although I will have to learn a new approach.



I would still like to be able to get rid of that problem, so if you and Charles can please continue applying your knowledge and skill set I will greatly appreciate it.



Thank you both for your time and energy and help so far.

Attached Files

Screenshot Styles error 2020-12-05.docx (169.2 KB, 7 views)

I'm wondering if your issue is related to a Microsoft update. This thread talks about a different style issue that seems to have been resolved by an update https://www.msofficeforums.com/word-...t-version.html

Are you up to date with your Windows update status?

__________________
Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia

A document with a screenshot is even less help than a simple screenshot. We are talking about a document that has the problem, not a picture of the problem.

I am am up to date with late Windows and Office updates. Have reinstalled Office, but not Windows.


I apologise Andrew and Charles that I posted the wrong file on my post of 12-08. I have now attached the correct file, which contains my observations of what is going on. Basically, it seems to affect Heading 1, Heading 2 etc. only, not other styles such as Normal, Emphasis, Captions etc. I can generate heading styles using keyboard strokes, but when it comes to preparing a custom Table of Contents, it will not allow me to modify the installed styles.

Attached Files

Styles error 2020-12-13.docx (15.7 KB, 5 views)