How do I delete List Templates from a document template?

[Jentimus]

In my Word 2003 document template, I notice that I have list templates that
are either blank or are no longer necessary.

I have searched the internet in vain for a way to remove these templates
(not just reset or convert them). Removing the associated paragraph styles
doesn't help.

Is it even possible to remove the list templates?

If so, how?

Thanks in advance ...

 

[George Lee]

You’re right to think this is a tricky problem. Word 2003 always adds lists
templates whenever you click the list button but rarely removes them. This
leads to file bloat and inevitable problems down the way. The solution is
equally tricky since it can’t be fixed from within Word. You have to change
the file to RFT and remove the lists from with that code.

The best looking solution I found is from Andew Savikas’ 2004 book Word
Hacks (http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596004934/). This is a great book, fun
to read, and he provides robust solutions. He documents this very problem in
Chapter 6. The code can be downloaded from
http://examples.oreilly.com/9780596004934 although it’s best to read about it
first. He uses a Perl script to solve this.