This page is designed to hep when you have an “early” program issue; when the installation process breaks down or you’re uncertain whether it is properly installed.

download-icon

Download

Having a problem with the initial download process? Uncertain how to manage a zip folder? Start here.

installation-icon

Installation

When the download is complete but the auto-install process has failed.

activation-icon

Activation

All about using the Registration Name and License Code to start things up.

Question Mark icon

Tab Missing

Word can make the program’s tab disappear from the menu bar. Here’s how to recover.

Oftentimes the largest factor causing an issue in this area is the activity one of the many security programs that are not current, not set correctly, or not following guidelines to recognize legitimate VBA programs. Before installing your software, please temporarily de-activate your protective systems during the installation and activation process. They can be re-activated after successful installation and will not interfere with the operation of your program.

Download

Our software works with every modern version of Word for Windows.

Downloads are available at any time from the product’s page on this site without registration or payment. Those pages are located under the Products>Downloads & Updates menu at the top of any page on our website. The download is a zip folder that is typically automatically saved in the browser’s download folder. When it arrives, move the zip folder to your computer’s Desktop and open (extract) it there. Inside you’ll find detailed instructions, but start by moving the program file itself, a Word document in your software’s name, out of the folder onto your Desktop.

When the instructions in the Installation PDF are closely followed ,the program will install itself correctly nearly 100% of the time. Downloading, Installation and Activation typically take less than two minutes. If opening a zip folder is a challenge or for other issues in the download and installation process, the Knowledge Base has a number of helpful suggestions in its Installations section.

For every installation issue the first consideration is whether the instructions in the Installation Guide that came with your program were scrupulously followed. When you’re satisfied that they were but issues remain, spend a few minutes browsing the Installation section of our online Knowledge Base for ideas.

Program activation requires the Registration Name and License Code from your account in our online Store. We suggest using control-C to copy them and control-V to insert them without errors. There are only four causes for a program to fail to recognize its activation codes; they’re described in When License Activation Fails in the Knowledge Base, but here is the short version, in order:

1. Using an incorrect Registration Name
2. Using an incorrect License Code
3. Attempting to license an inappropriate program. An example, attempting to activate Doxserá DB with a Doxserá License Code.
4. Attempting to register a very old, out of date version of the program. You can compare your version number by clicking About on the Menu Bar with the current version numbers of our software from the Knowledge Base at https://service.theformtool.com/hc/en-us/articles/212280686-Click-Here-for-Current-Version-Numbers.

If you’ve just purchased additional licenses, make certain that you’ve followed the directions in your receipt to use the new License Code on ALL machines.

If the program tab isn’t showing in Word’s menu bar, one of two problems is likely:

Installation

For every installation issue the first consideration is whether the instructions in the Installation Guide that came with your program were scrupulously followed.

When successfully installed, the program appears at the right end of Word’s menu bar and the program’s own file is stored in Word’s Startup folder. Check to see if it is there. 
(The default location for Word’s Startup folder is on the C drive, at UserName>AppData>Roaming>Microsoft>Word>Startup. The AppData folder is hidden by default, but you can go directly there using the command %appdata% in the Windows Explorer address window.) 

If the program is not in Word’s Startup folder, it’s not installed, so install it.

The automatic installation process succeeds more than 95% of the time. The remaining five percent generally involve a security setting block installation or a non-standard Word installation.

TURN OFF ALL SECURITY SYSTEMS, just for the installation. Unblock a download

If installation is completely blocked, perhaps with the installation file disappearing, Office’s security system or if you have multiple security systems installed, such as Windows Security and Bitdefender or McAffee in combination, that may be overly protective. After turning off all security systems, take these steps:

Create a new folder on your desktop. You’ll only need it for a minute or two.

Move your program download folder to your desktop. Then move (only) the program file to the new folder.

Close the folder, then right-click on it.

Go to the Properties area and click the Unblock box. Save the change.

Double-click the program file and proceed with your installation.

If installation started but failed

However, if the process seemed to flow smoothly but installation failed, then try these three high-probability solutions.

1.  Make absolutely certain that you turned off Windows Defender and any other active security system. Make absolutely certain that the zip folder’s  Unblock was checked before you extracted the program. These two items cause more than 80% of all installation issues.

2.  If the program is in Word’s Startup folder 
(The default location for Word’s Startup folder is on the C drive, at UserName>AppData>Roaming>Microsoft>Word>Startup. The AppData folder is hidden by default, but you can go directly there using the command %appdata% in the Windows Explorer address window.) but not on the menu bar, Word has blocked it from running. There are two likely areas to check. Go to Word’s preference area, by clicking either Word’s File command or the Office globe in the upper left corner. Then click Options>Add-ins and select Word Add-ins in the Manage dropdown menu. Is the program selected? If not, select it.

The Disabled Items in the same Manage dropdown menu is another possibility. Make sure Word hasn’t disabled the program.

3.  Finally, if necessary, check Options>Trust Center, click on the button Trust Center Settings. We suggest the radio button “Disable all macros with notification” as an appropriate choice for most users.

If neither of those steps produces a solution, are other Word add-ins installed? If so, disable them all and re-attempt the installation; afterwards, you can re-enable them. We’re always interested in possible conflicts.

If the program appears in Word’s menu bar after you have closed and reopened Word it is installed.

However, if at this point the program hasn’t installed, it’s time for our experts on the Service Desk to get involved. IMPORTANT: To help you they will want answers to all the questions above. That’s how they will best be able to diagnose the issue.

Special Cases

If you’re tasked with a simple network installation for multiple users, we recommend Installing for multiple users on a network or Organizing a (More Sophisticated) Network in the Knowledge Base. For Citrix, Sharepoint, or Worldox  there’s Citrix Installations, How to integrate TheFormTool with Sharepoint?, and Installing TheFormTool PRO in a Worldox environment.

Document Management Systems are built to manage documents and are wonderful places to keep the documents you create with our programs but they do a terrible job storing programs.

Activation

Program activation requires the Registration Name (Often different from your name or your firm’s name) and License Code from your account in our online Store. We suggest using control-C to copy them and control-V to insert them to avoid typographical errors. These four causes for a program to fail to recognize its activation codes account for more than 97% of all activation issues; they’re described in When License Activation Fails in the Knowledge Base, but here is the short version, in order:

1. Using an incorrect Registration Name

2. Using an incorrect License Code

3. Attempting to license an inappropriate program. An example, attempting to activate Doxserá DB with a Doxserá License Code.

4. Attempting to register a very old, out of date version of the program. You can compare your version number by clicking About on the Menu Bar with the current version numbers of our software from the Knowledge Base at https://service.theformtool.com/hc/en-us/articles/212280686-Click-Here-for-Current-Version-Numbers.

If this is an additional or renewal license, use this new License Code for ALL instances of the same software, new and old. Enter the new License Code at Doxserá DB>Options>License Code in the Word menu bar in the License Code window

Program Tab Missing from Word’s Menu Bar

If the program is in Word’s Startup folder 
(The default location for Word’s Startup folder is on the C drive, at UserName>AppData>Roaming>Microsoft>Word>Startup. The AppData folder is hidden by default, but you can go directly there using the command %appdata% in the Windows Explorer address window.) Word Options Add in Screenbut not on the menu bar, Word has blocked it from running. This generally, but not always, happens during Microsoft’s stealth updates of Word on Tuesday nights, There are two likely areas to check.

1. Go to Word’s preference area, by clicking either Word’s File command or the Office globe in the upper left corner. Then click Options>Add-ins and select Word Add-ins in the Manage dropdown menu. Is the program selected? If not, select it.

2. The Disabled Items in the same Manage dropdown menu is another possibility. Make sure Word hasn’t disabled the program.

Finally, if necessary, check Options>Trust Center, click on the Trust Center Settings button. We suggest the radio button “Disable all macros with notification” as an appropriate choice for most users.

At this point, if it’s still not working it’s time for our experts on the Service Desk to get involved. Request help.