Normal MIA

[brinded]

I've scoured the numerous posts on normal, but haven't found the
answer I'm looking for - apologies if I've missed it.

Just updated from Word X to 2004.

Seems to have lost my old 'normal' document.

I can't find the new 'normal' document, despite having searched the
drive.

I've tried creating a new 'normal' document and pointing preferences
to it - but it's being ignored.

At this point, I'm exasperated, but I'd simply like my new blank
documents to open with double spacing.

thanks.

ps - I've also tried setting preferences to 'prompt to save normal
document' - it doesn't seem to have any effect.

 

[Michel Bintener]

Hi,

while Word v.X stores its Normal template in Applications/Microsoft Office
v.X/Offce/Templates, Word 2004 uses ~/Documents/Microsoft User Data for that
same purpose. Have a look inside that folder to see if it is indeed there.
You can then open it and change the line spacing in the Format>Style
dialogue (select Normal from that list, click on Modify, then apply
double-spacing to it and check Add to Template). Generally speaking, it is
not a very good idea to create your own Normal template, as Word tends to
get very confused in that case. Instead, let Word create its own Normal
template and then modify it to your heart's content.

I've scoured the numerous posts on normal, but haven't found the
answer I'm looking for - apologies if I've missed it.

Just updated from Word X to 2004.

Seems to have lost my old 'normal' document.

I can't find the new 'normal' document, despite having searched the
drive.

I've tried creating a new 'normal' document and pointing preferences
to it - but it's being ignored.

At this point, I'm exasperated, but I'd simply like my new blank
documents to open with double spacing.

thanks.

ps - I've also tried setting preferences to 'prompt to save normal
document' - it doesn't seem to have any effect.

--
Michel Bintener
Microsoft MVP
Office:Mac (Entourage & Word)

*** Please always reply to the newsgroup. ***

 

[John McGhie]

The easiest way to find it is to ask Word! Word always knows where it is.

If you go to Word>Preferences>File Locations... And click "User Templates"
Word will tell you where it is.

You can use that dialog to move it anywhere you like. I wouldn't move it
unless you have a good reason to do so: moving it can lead to minor
complications.

Cheers

I've scoured the numerous posts on normal, but haven't found the
answer I'm looking for - apologies if I've missed it.

Just updated from Word X to 2004.

Seems to have lost my old 'normal' document.

I can't find the new 'normal' document, despite having searched the
drive.

I've tried creating a new 'normal' document and pointing preferences
to it - but it's being ignored.

At this point, I'm exasperated, but I'd simply like my new blank
documents to open with double spacing.

thanks.

ps - I've also tried setting preferences to 'prompt to save normal
document' - it doesn't seem to have any effect.

--
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, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Australia
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[brinded]

Thanks Michel and John,

I looked in Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office 2004 Identies/ Main
Identity and there's only one file, called 'database.'

I had already noticed under preferences, File Locations was set to
Applications/Office 2004/Templates. There's no doc named 'normal'
within.

I'd rather not mess around with any of this, but I would like my
documents to open with default double spacing (and a couple of other
things). Seemed very easy in X, now very elusive.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I looked in Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office 2004 Identies/ Main
Identity and there's only one file, called 'database.'

Normal will be in

Documents/Microsoft User Data

Not the identities subfolder.

 

[brinded]

Thanks, gottit.

Missed it among all the 'autorecovery save' and word work' files when
I looked before.

Curious why it didn't show up on earlier search.

In any case, I've got the changes I needed saved and am very happy
with it.

Thanks again.