Auto launch the same file when I launch WORD

[mbanstendig]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I have a template/file constructed in WORD, which contains the page format that I need in order to fit my pages in my stationaruy.

I usually launch this file, rename it, and use it to write in.

How can I make WORD auto-launch this file when I start WORD, instead of launching the blank page that WORD usually launches at startup?

Thanks, I did search the help, etc.

Mark

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Hi Mark,

If you save the file as a template (File | Save As, change format to
Template), and delete the non-recurring text from it, Word will
automatically create a new copy (unnamed "Document1") with those
settings when you double-click the template.

There is no simple way to tell Word "launch this file at startup
instead" but there are various things you could do to make life easier:

1) instead of launching Word from the dock, launch it by double-clicking
this template, which will then open a new copy.

2) if you always use this file, you could actually make these the
default settings for new Word docs. However, if you have text in the
doc, that's not a great idea.

3) use a little script that both launches Word and opens this
file/template, save the script as an app with the W icon, put it in the
dock and use it instead (might be easier if you *don't* convert the doc
to the template, not sure)

4) save the file (not template) in the Word Work menu for permanent easy
access to it.

Note on Word auto-launching:

When you start up Word, it creates a new blank document. If you then
open a file, the blank doc will automatically vanish, so this should not
be more than the most minor of inconveniences.

New in 2008--when you click on the W in the Dock to switch to Word, it
ALSO creates a new blank doc then (this appears to be new OS
convention). This one is more annoying. This doc will NOT go away when
you then create a file, and none of the steps above will affect Word's
behavior when you click on W in the Dock. You can avoid creating a new
file when you switch to Word by using cmd-tab to switch instead of
clicking in the Dock.

 

[mbanstendig]

Thanks for your kind and thorough reply.

I will continue to do as before, which was simply clicking on the saved file with a doc with that formatting, to launch WEROD or to launch a new doc. Then all I have to do is do a save-as and change the name.

Disappointing that, with all of Word's seemingly multi-million options, contents, and whatevers, it doesn't have a simple way to save a document template as its launch page.

The squeaky wheels really do get all the attention, I suppose.

Thanks again,

Mark

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Feel free to squeak via Help | Send Feedback in any Office app.

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Mark:

Word DOES have such a mechanism. I guess Daiya didn't suggest it because we
spend a depressing amount of time in here telling users how to unpick it
when they do it by accident!

1) Open your preferred document

2) Choose File>Save As

3) Change the Format drop-down to "Macro-enabled Template (.dotm)"

4) Word will automatically navigate to your My Templates folder.

5) Click up one level from there and save the file as "Normal.dotm"

There you go: exactly what you wanted.

I think you will get seriously pissed off with this after a while. When you
do, simply quit Word and delete Normal.dotm. Everything will go back the
way it was.

I prefer to place such regularly-used templates on one of the toolbars, so I
can choose them with a single click when I want them (as Daiya suggested).

Cheers

Thanks for your kind and thorough reply.

I will continue to do as before, which was simply clicking on the saved file
with a doc with that formatting, to launch WEROD or to launch a new doc. Then
all I have to do is do a save-as and change the name.

Disappointing that, with all of Word's seemingly multi-million options,
contents, and whatevers, it doesn't have a simple way to save a document
template as its launch page.

The squeaky wheels really do get all the attention, I suppose.

Thanks again,

Mark

--

Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[Guest]

Many thanks.

I knew Word had to have that possibility Somewhere.

Well, I have been scared off by the warnings.

I will probably just go on as i have in the past, loading the template by clicking it on my HD...Maybe adding it to a toolbar. But i hate the toolbars, since they take up so much Vertical space.

Still, an amazingly complete application, this Microsoft WORD.

Thanks again,

Mark

 

[CyberTaz]

Some other alternatives:

Create an alias for the document on your Desktop... as well as anywhere else
you may find convenient

Add it to the Sidebar of your Finder window

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac