Default template normal.dotm

[charring]

Woord 2007's default template is normal.dotm. When I open Word 2007 and a
blank document automatically opens, it is not with the default template. I
don't know what template it is opening with, but not the default. How can I
make sure all new docs open with the default template?

 

[Beth Melton]

If you're starting Word from a shortcut that's not using a switch to open
with a specific template then Word is using Normal.dotm to create the blank
document. Can you provide more details as to why you think it isn't? For
example did you make modifications that you are not seeing? If so, how did
you make them and what were they?

~Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

 

[Charri72]

I have the default set with a macro and with single line spacing. I have
verified these things by directly opening normal.dotm and they are in place.
When I open Word and 'document 1' is ready to use, the macro is not there and
either is the single line spacing.

 

[Beth Melton]

First, if you want to change the default line spacing the easiest way is to
open the Paragraph dialog box (click the dialog box launcher in the
Paragraph group) make your modifications, and then click the Default button
at the bottom.

Second, to guarantee you are opening your Normal template, in the Open
dialog box click the Templates link (or My Templates if using Windows XP)
and it will display the Templates folder Word uses for your Normal template.
However, you don't need to open the Normal template in order to store a
macro in it. If you create a macro it will be stored in your Normal template
by default.

~Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

 

[Charri72]

I made the change with the paragraph dialog box and clicked on 'default" and
saved it for all documents. Then I closed word and opened it again and a new
document came up and it is double spacing. "Trusted Templates" is where the
normal.dotm is stored. It is in application data, microsoft, templates.

 

[Beth Melton]

Yes, the Templates link for Windows XP is "Trusted Templates". Sorry about
that, I was going from memory as I'm using Windows 7.

If you are using the Paragraph dialog box to modify the defaults then it
should be changing your Normal template. How are you creating a new
document? Are you simply starting Word or are you right-clicking the Desktop
and then clicking New/Microsoft Office Word Document? If the latter then
Word uses the internal defaults rather than your modified Normal template.
However this bug was corrected in Office 2007 SP2. If the former then did
you confirm the change?

Also, by chance do you have Adobe PDFMaker installed? If so then the add-in
they use for Word is known to discard any changes you make to your Normal
template when you exit Word. I suspect that may be the case here. If you
want to keep the add-in then after you make your changes, press Alt+F11 to
open the Visual Basic Editor (don't worry, you won't be programming )
and click the Save button found there to force Word to save your
modifications.

To disable the PDFMaker add-in (which depending on the version it's not
compatible with Office 2007 anyway), click the Office Button/Word
Options/Add-ins. From the Manage drop down at the bottom, make sure COM
Add-ins is selected and then click Go. Deselect the Adobe Add-in to prevent
it from loading when Word starts.

~Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

 

[Charri72]

Thank you!!!! It is finally working!!

Yes, the Templates link for Windows XP is "Trusted Templates". Sorry about
that, I was going from memory as I'm using Windows 7.

If you are using the Paragraph dialog box to modify the defaults then it
should be changing your Normal template. How are you creating a new
document? Are you simply starting Word or are you right-clicking the Desktop
and then clicking New/Microsoft Office Word Document? If the latter then
Word uses the internal defaults rather than your modified Normal template.
However this bug was corrected in Office 2007 SP2. If the former then did
you confirm the change?

Also, by chance do you have Adobe PDFMaker installed? If so then the add-in
they use for Word is known to discard any changes you make to your Normal
template when you exit Word. I suspect that may be the case here. If you
want to keep the add-in then after you make your changes, press Alt+F11 to
open the Visual Basic Editor (don't worry, you won't be programming )
and click the Save button found there to force Word to save your
modifications.

To disable the PDFMaker add-in (which depending on the version it's not
compatible with Office 2007 anyway), click the Office Button/Word
Options/Add-ins. From the Manage drop down at the bottom, make sure COM
Add-ins is selected and then click Go. Deselect the Adobe Add-in to prevent
it from loading when Word starts.

~Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

 

[toaster]

Yes, the Templates link for Windows XP is "Trusted Templates". Sorry about
that, I was going from memory as I'm using Windows 7.

If you are using the Paragraph dialog box to modify the defaults then it
should be changing your Normal template. How are you creating a new
document? Are you simply starting Word or are you right-clicking the Desktop
and then clicking New/Microsoft Office Word Document? If the latter then
Word uses the internal defaults rather than your modified Normal template.
However this bug was corrected in Office 2007 SP2. If the former then did
you confirm the change?

Also, by chance do you have Adobe PDFMaker installed? If so then the add-in
they use for Word is known to discard any changes you make to your Normal
template when you exit Word. I suspect that may be the case here. If you
want to keep the add-in then after you make your changes, press Alt+F11 to
open the Visual Basic Editor (don't worry, you won't be programming )
and click the Save button found there to force Word to save your
modifications.

To disable the PDFMaker add-in (which depending on the version it's not
compatible with Office 2007 anyway), click the Office Button/Word
Options/Add-ins. From the Manage drop down at the bottom, make sure COM
Add-ins is selected and then click Go. Deselect the Adobe Add-in to prevent
it from loading when Word starts.

~Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Beth, I was having this EXACT problem with Word not saving my changes--it
was driving me insane!!! I disabled the PDFMaker add-on like you said, and
it worked--thank you so much! I'm just wondering why this was never an issue
for me at work, where I've been using Office 2007 on XP for the past
year--same as here at home, but I've just loaded Office at home recently.
Also, the Adobe Add-in isn't needed for anything?

Thanks again,
Beth C.

 

[Beth Melton]

You're welcome!

Do you have Adobe Acrobat Professional at work? If you do it could be they
didn't include the add-in for the Office applications. As for whether you
need it, if using Office 2007 then Microsoft has included the ability to
save as PDF as an add-in (it was included originally but Adobe sued
Microsoft over it, Adobe won and it was removed and they made an add-in
available instead). You can download it from the Microsoft web site or if
you installed Office 2007 SP2 it will be included automatically.

As for whether you actually need the Adobe add-in or if the Microsoft PDF
ability will suffice, this is primarily determined by whether you need the
full accessibility options Adobe provides for the visually impaired. The
Microsoft PDF add-in can add navigation tags (bookmarks) but it doesn't
include all of the accessibility options that Adobe provides when using
their PDF maker procedure.

~Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

 

[Beth Melton]

You're welcome. I'm glad to hear everything is working for you again.

~Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP