Bullet styles changes when I apply a template to an existing doc

[Cassandra]

Hello, all

I've created a template and the bullets work fine if you
use it to start a new document. However, if you apply it
to an existing document, the bullet style changes.

I think I know why it is doing this...Word looks to the
third bullet style in the Bullets and Numbering dialogue
box to determine the type of bullet for the Bullet style.

Is there any way that I can make the template overwrite
what is in the document's settings in the Bullets and
Numbering dialogue box?

I've created a new style called Bullet...would it be
better to modify the built in style called List Bullet?

I hope this made sense! Thanks in advance for your help!

~Cassandra

 

[Shauna Kelly]

Hi Cassandra

Here are some sad facts of life. First, Word is notoriously bad at
copying numbered or bulleted styles from a template to a document (which
is basically what happens when you attach a new template to a document
*and* you tick the "Automatically update document styles" box). Second,
the Bullets and Numbering dialog is quite beyond the control of users
and since it behaves erratically, it sometimes seems like it's beyond
the control of Word, too!

For information on how to update the styles as well as Word is capble of
doing it, see:
How to safely update a document's styles from its template without using
the Organizer (and how to make the Tools + Templates and Add-ins dialog
safe)
http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/MacrosVBA/UpdateStyles.htm

Yes, it may be better to modify the built in style called List Bullet,
rather than using a custom style. There's some information about how to
do that at:
How to control bullets in Microsoft Word
http://www.ShaunaKelly.com/word/bullets/controlbullets.html

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word
Melbourne, Australia

 

[Guest]

So, basically, I'm going to have to train people on how to
modify their bullets if they want to apply the template to
an existing document?

I don't want to do anything too complicated because I'm
working on a contract basis and don't want to leave this
company with something they can't fix themselves if it
goes awry.

Thanks!
Cassandra