Convert *.doc to *.doc

[dixie]

I am converting normal mailmerge .doc files to document template .dot files.
I have been opening them and then saving them as a document template. The
only difference I can see is the .dot extension. Would it be the same thing
just to change the file extension with a rename *.doc *.dot dos command. In
other words, is that the only difference between a document template and a
document, just the extension is different. If it is, I have been wasting
many hours of my time.

dixie

 

[Graham Mayor]

Renaming in DOS? or Explorer will do the job, but they need to be relocated
to the templates folder(s)
The main difference is the way Word handles its files.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP
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Web site www.gmayor.dsl.pipex.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
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[dixie]

So what you're saying Graham is that if the .dot files are not in the
default file location for document templates as shown in Word - Tools -
Options - File Locations, then they are not handled as templates. I have
mine on a network drive and it is not the default location of document
templates in Word.

dixie

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Dixie,

I am converting normal mailmerge .doc files to document template .dot files.
I have been opening them and then saving them as a document template. The
only difference I can see is the .dot extension. Would it be the same thing
just to change the file extension with a rename *.doc *.dot dos command. In
other words, is that the only difference between a document template and a
document, just the extension is different. If it is, I have been wasting
many hours of my time.

I'm not sure how to interpret Graham's explanation, but NO, simply changing
the extension name will NOT make a document file a template. Over the years,
the structures have begun to resemble each other more and more, but there are
definitely still differences. One major one is that a document file cannot
store AutoText entries.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep 30 2003)
http://www.mvps.org/word

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or
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[Graham Mayor]

Hi Dixie,

I'm not sure how to interpret Graham's explanation, but NO, simply
changing the extension name will NOT make a document file a template.
Over the years, the structures have begun to resemble each other more
and more, but there are definitely still differences. One major one
is that a document file cannot store AutoText entries.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep 30 2003)
http://www.mvps.org/word

I was not trying to imply that there were no differences, rather that for
the sake of this exercise, a document can be used as a template - even
though, as you have elaborated, it will not become a true template. As for
Dixie's follow up question, in order for the 'template' to appear in the
file > new dialog, it has to be stored at a location where Word will treat
it as such e.g. http://www.gmayor.dsl.pipex.com/Template_Locations.htm. To
what extent the use of a document as a template will be hampered by not
actually being a template, will rather depend on the application to which
the template is put.

Having just re-read the above, I am not sure whether this has added to or
detracted from my earflier answer

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.dsl.pipex.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>

 

[dixie]

So, If I get my mailmerge files that I have simply given a .dot extension to
and simply save as a document template, that should fix them?

dixie

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Dixie,

So, If I get my mailmerge files that I have simply given a .dot extension to
and simply save as a document template, that should fix them?

That would turn them into "true" templates, yes, and save them by default to
the "Templates" location. Note that you should be able to do this using VBA
code, if that helps you at all. You should find the basic code for looping
through files in a directory on the mvps.org/word site.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep 30 2003)
http://www.mvps.org/word

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or
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[dixie]

Cindy, I just spent more than a half hour on the mvps site and couldn't find
any code to loop through files in a directory. Could you give me a more
specific address for that article.

dixie

 

[Graham Mayor]

Try http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/MacrosVBA/BatchFR.htm

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
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[dixie]

Thanks Graham, got it.

dixie

Try http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/MacrosVBA/BatchFR.htm

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>