Word 2010 Template changes not being saved

[Larry B]

Maybe I am not using the template concept correctly but...

I would like to alter some of the opening blank document parameters.
Specifically, font, font size, line spacing and margins. I have tried to
modify the font related attributes for the Normal template via the button on
the Ribbon/Styles toolbar. Right-click/Modify. When I close Word and open it
up again, it is back to Calibri 11 again. I also saved the blank document
just to be sure that the changes are saved (I recall the old normal.dot
working that way).

I saw one idea on a website that suggested that I search for normal.dot and
open that file but Search does not find normal.dotx or .dotm. What am I
missing? Thanks

 

[Larry B]

Maybe I am not using the template concept correctly but...

I would like to alter some of the opening blank document parameters.
Specifically, font, font size, line spacing and margins. I have tried to
modify the font related attributes for the Normal template via the button
on the Ribbon/Styles toolbar. Right-click/Modify. When I close Word and
open it up again, it is back to Calibri 11 again. I also saved the blank
document just to be sure that the changes are saved (I recall the old
normal.dot working that way).

I saw one idea on a website that suggested that I search for normal.dot
and open that file but Search does not find normal.dotx or .dotm. What am
I missing? Thanks

Could not get anything to happen properly so I created a new template with
my chosen attributes. Then went to the folder containing the Templates
(which is
"C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\Normal.dotm") , I
renamed the existing Normal template (NormalOLD) and then renamed my new
template Normal. It worked like a charm, for a total workaround, that is.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Although you may consider that it worked, you actually cannot create a
Normal.dotm. You MUST modify the existing one. Sooner or later you'll
realize you're missing some stuff. See “WD2002: Styles and AutoText Are Not
Copied to New Template Based on Normal.dot” at
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=291441

Given the reduced role of AutoText in Word 2007/2010 and the fact that
building blocks are stored separately, this might be mitigated, but it is
still risky to try to "roll your own."

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Stefan Blom]

It is not recommended to replace Normal.dotm with a custom template. Instead, to transfer a modified style to the attached template (which for blank documents is the Normal template), select "New documents based on this template" in the Modify Style dialog box, and then click OK.

Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP



"Larry B" wrote in message

Maybe I am not using the template concept correctly but...

I would like to alter some of the opening blank document parameters.
Specifically, font, font size, line spacing and margins. I have tried to
modify the font related attributes for the Normal template via the button
on the Ribbon/Styles toolbar. Right-click/Modify. When I close Word and
open it up again, it is back to Calibri 11 again. I also saved the blank
document just to be sure that the changes are saved (I recall the old
normal.dot working that way).

I saw one idea on a website that suggested that I search for normal.dot
and open that file but Search does not find normal.dotx or .dotm. What am
I missing? Thanks

Could not get anything to happen properly so I created a new template with
my chosen attributes. Then went to the folder containing the Templates
(which is
"C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\Normal.dotm") , I
renamed the existing Normal template (NormalOLD) and then renamed my new
template Normal. It worked like a charm, for a total workaround, that is.

 

[Larry B]

Also, since I lost my newsreader (OE) at work (to Outlook), there are delays
in my ability to respond quickly (now OE at home only). Do you have a
recommended free newsreader? I know that this is not your given area of
expertise, but you do have quite a bit of usenet experience. Thanks.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

You are not having any luck with the AutoText because, as stated in the
referenced article, it was not included when you created the new
Normal.dotm.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Depending on version of Windows, you should have Windows Mail (now
deprecated and, IIRC, widely reviled) or Windows Live Mail (which I have to
say I can't get comfortable with). Many people seem to like Thunderbird
(free: http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/), Agent (free
version available: http://www.forteinc.com/agent/index.php), and MesNews
(free: http://www.mesnews.net/gb/). There's a rundown at
http://www.newsreaders.info/recommended-newsreaders.htm, though it seems a
bit dated.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Larry B]

Thanks.

You are not having any luck with the AutoText because, as stated in the
referenced article, it was not included when you created the new
Normal.dotm.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Larry B]

Any idea why my attempts to properly modify the Normal style have failed
thus far?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

When you modify it, are you selecting the button for "New documents based on
this template"? And of course this will apply only to new documents, not
existing ones, unless you reattach the template with "Automatically update
document styles" enabled.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[Larry B]

Yes on New Documents. The first blank document opened up never reflects the
changes I've made.
Where is the automatically update document styles option located? I'll ck on
that.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

If the Blank Document isn't reflecting your changes, then the other is not
really an issue. You need to figure out why the Normal template is not being
saved (almost certainly interference from an add-in). If you are finding the
correct Normal.dotm and modifying it directly, though, then you should see
those changes reflected. There is one glitch, however, that may be an issue
here: If you create a new document using File | New within Word, you get one
based on your Normal.dotm, but if you right-click on the Desktop or in an
Explorer window and choose New > Microsoft Word Document, you get one based
on the default Normal.dotm (the one that is hardwired into the Word
executable). It may be that this also affects using New Office Document on
the Start menu.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org