Document is either deleted or not currently accessible

Question

Level 1

12 points

Document is either deleted or not currently accessible

Hello,

I am no longer able to open any Word files and I've already Googled a LOT of "how to fix it" tutorials prior to posting this. Some advised to search for the Word folder under ~/Library/Preferences but for me it's not there - I just see these files:

com.microsoft.autoupdate.fba.plist

com.microsoft.autoupdate1.plist

com.microsoft.office.plist

com.microsoft.OneDriveStandaloneUpdater.plist

com.microsoftOneDriveUpdater.plist

com.microsoft.shared.plist

I seem to miss the com.microsoft.Word.plist file that the poster said I should move to the Desktop to solve the issue.

Other posters talked about moving my Documents folder from my iCloud location (where supposedly my Word docs are saving) under Favorites in Finder. Well, that also didn't solve my problem.

I've also ran a First Aid on my Mac HD drive, under Disk Utility. That didn't help either...

Further digging and I don't even see the Microsoft folder anywhere. It's not under: /Users/[your user directory name]. The Application folder under my User is totally empty. I don't have the in: /Users/[your user directory name]/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/Office path as someone suggested online.

I am very confused what is going on with my computer. Please help!

I have the macOS Catalina, Version 10.15.1

Thank you!

MacBook Air

Posted on May 7, 2020 11:16 AM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

122,922 points

May 7, 2020 11:41 AM in response to osando1

If you are attempting to use the 32-bit Office 2008/2011 suites on Catalina, you certainly won't have functional applications, or the ability to open MS documents in those applications. If that is the case, you need to decide on upgrading to Office 365, the single-purchase Office 2019 for Mac, or the free LibreOffice Suite — all of which are 64-bit application suites.

It is customary for sandboxed applications to maintain a ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.* folder and its own application support and preferences content. Additionally, there may be a ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft folder with other data in it. The tilde (~) is a shortcut replacement for /Users/yourname.

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Answer 2

osando1 Author

Level 1

12 points

May 7, 2020 11:40 AM in response to Old Toad

Thank you but I am not going to purchase a $8 app to replace Spotlight. If the app was free I'd try it.

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Answer 3

Old Toad

Level 10

215,076 points

May 7, 2020 11:30 AM in response to osando1

I seem to miss the com.microsoft.Word.plist file that the poster said I should move to the Desktop to solve the issue.

Download and run Find Any File to search for the file:

1 - Name is com.microsoft.Word.plist

Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.

FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.

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Answer 4

osando1 Author

Level 1

12 points

May 7, 2020 11:55 AM in response to VikingOSX

When I opened ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft all that's there is Skype for Desktop and it's subfolders.

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Answer 5

VikingOSX

Level 10

122,922 points

May 7, 2020 11:49 AM in response to osando1

Because your Library folder is still hidden. Open a Finder window and if your home directory is in the Favorites list, click that. Then press command+J and select Show Library Folder. Now it will appear in your Finder Go menu.

You can press shift+command+G to bring up the Finder's Go To Folder dialog. There, you can enter tilde strings, e.g.:

~/Library/Application Support

~/Library/Containers

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Answer 6

Old Toad

Level 10

215,076 points

May 7, 2020 11:56 AM in response to osando1

You don't have this?

Then while in your Home folder use the View ➙ Show View Options menu and then check the Show Library Folder checkbox. Then the Library folder will be visible.

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