Report Objects are missing after opening a saved Microsoft Word 2007 document

When you open a local document that was saved in Microsoft Word 2007, you may notice that the report objects that were originally imported are missing. Additionally, you are unable to properly refresh the report.

Microsoft Word 2007 has problems processing document variables contained in files that are saved in new file formats, such as .docx. The problem occurs in the Word 2007 hotfix package as described in KB 969604 on Word 2007 SP2. This update is automatically applied if you turned on the Windows Automatic Updates. When installed, the version of Word 2007 with SP1 or SP2, including this update, is 12.0.6504.5000.

In general, imported IBM® Cognos® Analytics reports that are saved as Microsoft Word documents include document variables that store hidden metadata. When you save a document in the Word 2007 format, the document variables may change unexpectedly and become corrupted if the Microsoft Word application was at the hotifx level as described in KB 969604. When the document variables are corrupted, you are not able to refresh the report data.

To resolve this issue, you must download and install Microsoft Word hotfix package that is dated June 30, 2009 (KB 970942). When installed, the version of Word 2007, after the new hotfix, is 12.0.6510.5001.

This hotfix is not available through the Windows Automatic Updates; you must request and download it from the Microsoft Web site. After downloading this hotfix version, re-import the report to successfully refresh it.