Word automation extremely slow sometimes

[ChrizzA]

We have implemented a word printing facility in our program. It basically consists of a word template (with tokens) that the user can edit themselves. Then if they want to print an invoice for example they can select a template and an invoice rolls out the printer. We open the document in foxpro (version 7) and then search for the tokens that need to be replaced with the actual values.

This all works well but for some reason we now have a problem on some computers. We have a few customers which report that on some computers the process of making the document takes a few minutes instead of the few seconds it takes on other computers. We have tried to simulate the problem here on our test machines but at first we couldn't reproduce the problem. Untill one of us got a new pc. At first it was as fast as normal (few seconds), then after some windows updates and installation of other programs it suddenly took minutes on that machine. We also had reports of customers who installed word 2003 and where the problem was gone.

We tried everything from reinstalling word till whatever but we can't figure out why it takes seconds on 1 pc and minutes on the other.

Does anyone have ideas or has had similar problems ?

 

[alvechurchdata]

Could it be some security mechanism in Windows or a Virus Checker that's intercepting and slowing down OLE?

Geoff Franklin

http://www.alvechurchdata.co.uk

 

[Mike Lewis]

Chrizza,

... some windows updates and installation of other programs

The problem probably lies in those updates or programs. If all else fails, you could start again with a fresh install of Windows, then gradually apply the updates or install the programs, one at a time, until the problem reappears.

If that solves it, be sure to let us know.

Mike

__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My sites:
Visual FoxPro (www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk)
Crystal Reports (www.ml-crystal.com)

 

[baltman]

Check out the print drivers for the default printer on the machines. I've found some (older) printer drivers really kill office automation.

Good luck.
Brian

 

[GriffMG]

Hi ChrizzA,

I have EXACTLY the same problem, a client has just thrown a service pack onto a bunch of his machines - and now my application have become very hard to use! Taking up to five minutes to open and update a 'template' document just like yours!

Have you found a solution?

Martin

Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

 

[ChrizzA]

Hi Griff,

No unfortunately i can't say i solved the problem. We made tiny improvements by changing the way we transfer our data to the template.

Besides this we saw a bigger improvement (1 min improvement or so) when using the option "Detect & repair" from the help menu in Word. This also seems to correct some bad file references which could slow down the startup.

One of our clients reported reasonable speed improvements when installing word 97.

We're still looking for a solution because it's still far away from the speed we have on other computers.

Personally i'm still thinking more in the direction of some windows update or something which might change a setting or something.

Chris

 

[GriffMG]

Hi,

Yesterday I went to the clients site and uninstalled SP2 for XP - bingo, right back how it was!

Snag is, his IS dept wants SP2 on the XP machines!

Still, at least the users are happy.

Have you tried this? Also some machines worked fine anyway, one had Word 2003 and the other was running Windows 2K

If you get anywhere, please post it here - I will do likewise.

Martin

Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

 

[Mike Lewis]

Griff,

Did you consider the idea I mentioned in your other thread -- about selectively switching off the SP2 security features? That might tell you which specific feature (if any) was causing the slow down. Their IT dept. can then decide if they want that feature or not.

Mike


__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My sites:
Visual FoxPro (www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk)
Crystal Reports (www.ml-crystal.com)

 

[GriffMG]

Hi Mike,

I did try the most basic of those, but there isn't a lot of 'on and off' you can do, without risking a serious breakdown, unless I missed some!

I tried setting up a new user (non-admin) and I tried turning the firewall on and off - but neither made a difference. Bearing in mind that my machines, running XP at SP2 and with Office at SR-1 do not exhibit the problem, I'm clutching at straws.

The other thread was, rightly enough, deleted as being off-topic.

Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

 

[Mike Lewis]

Griff,

I know it's not directly related to SP2, but what about virus checking? Is it possible they enabled a higher level of checking at the same time as installing SP2? If so, that could well be the culprit.

Mike


__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My sites:
Visual FoxPro (www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk)
Crystal Reports (www.ml-crystal.com)

 

[GriffMG]

It could be, and I certainly don't use the same anti-virus as the client is (I'm and AVG fanatic).

But, you would *think* that the anti-virus would affect all machines - but then again, perhaps not!

I'll ask, but I suspect the clients' IS dept just 'threw' the out-of-the-box SP2 on as many machines as they could.

Chrizza, is this possible from your side?

Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

 

[alvechurchdata]

But, you would *think* that the anti-virus would affect all machines

We've got Kaspersky AntiVirus on all our PCs so I can't comment on AVG but I know there can easily be differences between Kaspersky installations.

They've simplified the setup recently to "High, Medium, Low" but it took a little effort to get earlier versions all set up with the same options. Automatic updates complicate matters when one PC gets a newer (faster or slower) version before another.

Geoff Franklin

http://www.alvechurchdata.co.uk

 

[ChrizzA]

Well we have checked most security items but couldn't find anything that could cause the slow Word. Offcourse we tried with firewalls, virusscanners and all disabled but this seemed to make no difference.

But like you we also have machines with all current windows updates (including SP2) that run perfectly (like mine, we only have the problem on my colleagues machine and some clients of us). So Griff it looks like we have th exact same problem if it is any comfort

I'll post here if i have any update on the situation.

Chris

P.S. Thinking about installing a test machine clean and applying all updates manually (where possible) to maybe find out which one is causing the problem.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Chris and Griff,

Thinking about installing a test machine clean and applying all updates manually (where possible) to maybe find out which one is causing the problem.

I really think that's the best approach.

Mike

__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My sites:
Visual FoxPro (www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk)
Crystal Reports (www.ml-crystal.com)

 

[GriffMG]

Chris,Mike,

I would *love* to be able to make some kind of test machine and apply all the updates, but it's just not practicable.

It seems that even SP2 comes in more than one variant now - corporate customers getting a different build, to allow for scripted application.

I think this is one instance where I will have to wait for someone else to find the solution - or for MS to admit there is a problem!

B-(

Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing

 

[Mike Lewis]

Griff,

If you do eventually come up with a solution, do let us know. The fact that two of you have had the same problem suggests that others will as well.

Mike


__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

My sites:
Visual FoxPro (www.ml-consult.demon.co.uk)
Crystal Reports (www.ml-crystal.com)

 

[GriffMG]

Mike,

Looking via google suggests this isn't uncommon - just not prevalent enough for MS to kick-in and do something about it.

Time will tell. Perhaps SP3 will fix it?

I will update if It find anything

B-)

Regards

Griff
Keep [Smile]ing