OTM Troubleshooting
Typical OTM Opening Challenges
Microsoft Word Not Present
If you attempt to load your OTM file, you experience a message such as "Can't Open OTM Files". Customarily, this means that Microsoft Word is not installed on %%os%%. Because your operating system doesn't know what to do with this file, you won't be able to open it by double-clicking.
Tip: If you don't have Microsoft Word installed, and you know of another program to open your OTM file, you can try opening it by selecting from the programs listed under "Show Apps".
Outdated Microsoft Word
Sometimes your installed version of Microsoft Word won't support your Outlook Macro File file. Visit the Microsoft Corporation website to download (or purchase) the latest version of Microsoft Word. Most of the time your Outlook Macro File file was created by a newer Microsoft Word than what you have installed.
Tip: Investigate your OTM file by right-clicking and selecting "Properties" to find clues on what version you need.
Ultimately, most of the difficulties opening OTM files are due to having the wrong version of Microsoft Word installed.
Associated Difficulties Loading OTM Files
Assuming you have the right Microsoft Word version installed, other problems can prevent you from opening OTM files. Other OTM opening errors can be created by other system problems inside of %%os%%. Issues that aren't software-related:
- Corrupt Windows Registry file path references for OTM
- Accidental deletion of the description of the OTM file in the Windows registry
- Partial installation of Microsoft Word that did not fully complete
- Your OTM file is corrupted (issues with your Outlook Macro File file itself)
- Your OTM has adversely impacted by malware
- Hardware associated with OTM has outdated drivers
- Windows has inadequate resources to open your Outlook Macro File file
Quiz: Which operating system pioneered hierarchical file system (eg. file folders)?
That's Correct!
Multics was the first OS to support hierarchies of directories (eg. "Home" -> "Documents" -> "Work"). Nearly every modern operating system was heavily influenced by Multics.
Close, but not quite...
Multics was the first OS to support hierarchies of directories (eg. "Home" -> "Documents" -> "Work"). Nearly every modern operating system was heavily influenced by Multics.