|
Every Microsoft Word
document is based on a template.
A template
determines the overall structure of a document and can include text,
graphics, styles, macros, etc.
The Normal
template is the default template that is used when you start Microsoft
Word or click the New Blank Document button.
If you modify the
Normal template, all new documents you create will include those
modifications. The Normal template file
(Normal.dot)
is stored in the Template folder.
If you delete the
Normal template file, Word will create a new Normal template file with the
standard document settings the next time it starts.
Template
locations and folders
When you or someone in your workgroup
uses a template from the New Document, two factors
determine which document templates are available and which tab of the
Templates dialog box each template appears on:
- the location of the template
- your file location settings for
User templates and Workgroup templates.
To check your template
file location settings
- From the Tools menu select
Options
- Select the File
Locations tab.
Template folders
By default, templates (including
Normal.dot) are stored in C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Application
Data\Microsoft\Templates.
Template files that you save in
the Templates folder appear on the General tab in the Templates dialog
box. Any document (.doc) file that you save in the Templates folder also
acts as a template.
-
If you want to create custom tabs
for your templates in the Templates dialog box, create a new subfolder
in the Templates folder and save your templates in that subfolder.
-
The folder location must match
the path listed for User Templates on the File Locations tab (Tools
menu, Options command). The name you give that subfolder will appear on
the new tab.
-
If you save a template in a
different location, the template will not appear in the Templates dialog
box.
Note: You can also remove
tabs from the Templates dialog box by marking them as not available in the
Setup program.
Modifying
the Normal template
Changing
the default margins
- From the
File menu select Page Setup.
-
Click on the Margins tab.
-
Enter the values for the margins.
-
Click on Default.
Word will inform you that this change will
affect all documents based on the Normal template.
- Click on Yes.
Changing
the default font
- From
the Format menu select Font.
-
Set all of the
attributes you want for your default font.
-
Click the Default button.
Word will inform you that this change will
affect all documents based on the Normal template.
- Click on Yes.
Creating a New Template
·
To create
template from scratch, simply start a new document (it will become a
template when you save it as a template file).
- To base a new
template on an existing document, open the document you want.
- To base a new
template on an existing template, from the File
menu select New.
Select a template that is similar to the one you want to create.
Select Template under Create New.
Click OK.
- To edit an existing
template, create a new document based on that template, make the edits,
then follow steps 2-4 below, but use the original file name (you will be
prompted to replace the original file when you save).
-
From the
File
menu select
Save As.
-
In the Save as type
box, select Document Template (*.dot).
This file type will already be selected if you are saving a file that
you created as a template.
-
The Templates folder is
displayed in the Save in box.
To save the template so that it will appear on a tab other than General,
switch to the corresponding subfolder within the Templates folder.
-
In the File name box,
type a name for the new template, and then click Save.
In the new template, add the text and
graphics you want to appear in all new documents that you base on the
template, and delete any items you don't want to appear.
-
Make the changes you want to the margin
settings, page size and orientation, styles, and other formats.
-
Click on
Save.
-
From the
File
menu select
Close.
|