Attaching a Word 2007 Template

[Norm Beauchemin]

Hi,

I've created a template in Word 2007 for reports our company produces. When
I create a new document using the template, the Quick Styles, theme, theme
colors and theme font in the new document are all set to what they were in
the dotx file. When I attach the template to an existing document, the theme,
theme colors, theme font, and Quick Styles remain what they were in the
document. I then have to reset the theme, theme colors, theme font, and Quick
Styles to what they were in the template. Is there any way to reset the
document's styles, theme, theme colors and theme font automatically to what
they are in the template when I attach the template to the document?

Thanks!

 

[Echo S]

I only know about themes really in PowerPoint. The biggest thing is, you
create them in PowerPoint, even though Excel and Word can use them, too.

So I'd open PPT, specify the theme fonts and colors and select a set of
effects (do this on the Design tab). (If you're not sure about Effects, then
just stick with the default "Office" set.) Then Office Button | Save As and
save as Office Theme (*.THMX).

Then apply that theme to your Word template in Word and save.

I *think* that will "attach" the theme to your Word template.

I don't think this will do anything for the QuickStyles, though -- you may
need to ask about that specifically in one of the Word groups. I'd suggest
making sure the rest of the theme parts attach before you tackle
QuickStyles.

 

[Beth Melton]

Theme and Quick Style sets are essentially formatting templates that are
independent of a document template. They fall into more of a "document
content" category, such as Page Margins or headers/footers. Once a document
is created the connection to these formatting templates is severed. So, as
you found, if you create a template then documents based on the template
will inherit these elements and also, as you found, if you attach a
different document template these elements aren't automatically ported to
the document.

When you attach a new template and select the 'Automatically update document
styles' option (found in the Document Template dialog box) that will update
the styles, which in turn will modify the Quick Style set, but the Theme
will not be updated. Note if you create a custom theme you can switch the
theme colors and the theme fonts (and theme effects even though these aren't
as widely used in Word documents as they are in other Office applications)
with the theme itself rather setting each theme component individually. This
is just a matter of selecting/modifying the Theme Colors, Theme Fonts, and
Theme Effects and saving the Current Theme using the command found at the
bottom of the Themes gallery. Then after you attach the template and select
the "Automatically update..." option all you'd need to do is select the
Theme.

Now, if what you are trying to do is take existing documents and update so
they contain your newly create Quick Style Set and Theme, what you might
want do is record a macro that includes changing the Quick Style Set. Theme,
and document template if necessary, and use it to quickly make your
modifications in the existing documents. That way all of the elements you
want to include can be added with a click of the mouse or keyboard shortcut.

As an additional note, it's good practice to remove the 'Automatically
update document styles' option once the styles have been updated unless you
want to continue to update the styles in the document to those in the
template. If you don't and send a the document to others they may encounter
an undesired update in the styles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton
What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

Guides for the Office 2007 Interface:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/HA102295841033.aspx

 

[Norm Beauchemin]

Thanks, Beth!

I recorded a macro that reset the quick style set to the one in effect (I'm
probably not using the right terminology) in the attached template.

Unfortunately, when I tried to record a macro to reset the theme to the one
in effect in the attached template, the result was simply:

Sub Macro2()
'
' Macro2 Macro
'
'
End Sub

What I recorded was clicking on the Page Layout tab, clicking on the Themes
icon, then clicking on the option to "Reset to Theme from (template name)
Template".

Any suggestions on how I could write a macro to reset the theme to the one
in effect for the template?

Thanks!

 

[Beth Melton]

Hmmmm...I took a quick look in the Object Model and I didn't see something
for this. It doesn't mean it's not there, it just means I can't find it
right now. You may want to post in one of the Word VBA (Programming)
groups. You'll find a wider audience of VBA gurus there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton
What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

Guides for the Office 2007 Interface:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/HA102295841033.aspx