Where does Word get the normal.dot when it recreates it?

[Missy G]

I would like to add some custom styles to the normal.dot that Word uses when
it recreates itself after you have either deleted or renamed the existing
normal.dot, however I can't find the file it uses to create the new one. The
goal is that when Word recreates the normal.dot, my custom styles are there
without me having to use the Organizer to move them from an older normal.dot
or document. Any help?

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

The facility to create the Normal.dot is coded into the Word application and
cannot be modified.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP, originally posted via msnews.microsoft.com

 

[Jay Freedman]

My suggestion would be to create a new normal.dot, add the custom
styles to it, and burn the resulting file to a CD. If you need to
revert to a clean template, just copy from the CD into your Templates
folder (optionally renaming the existing normal.dot first). Note that
you may have to open the copied template's Properties dialog and
uncheck its Read Only box.

A strict schedule of regular backups helps, too. (You probably knew I
was going to say that.)

As a final comment, in 15 years of using Word I've only had a
normal.dot go bad once. It isn't something that "just happens" --
usually there is a cause, such as a poorly written add-in, that can be
isolated and removed.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
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