I understand, and I really appreciate the input, but I've been trying to keep it simple. The template (*.dot actually for Word 2003) containing this macro and userform is in fact 4.6MB in size with hundreds of macros and multiple userforms, also linked to other templates for various utility routines. Three decades of intermittent programming to address various needs on a huge literary project. About 12MB in all. It would be easier to write a sample macro that illustrates the issue. I'll have a think about it. Time is presently at a premium. I was hoping there would be something simple that I was doing wrong that the experts could easily spot!