Styles and normal.dot

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extreme_dad - 16 Jun 2006 17:06 GMT

I am using Word 2003. Use it extensively, but must be missing some basics. I
use styles extensively, but I assume all of my styles are now in normal.dot.

I am having trouble understanding normal.dot. Is this a template?

I have a 200+ page training manual. I want to make sure that normal.dot
changes in other documents do not affect this document.

Also, I would like to have several basics styles or templates - one for
manuals, one for tips, etc. I want to open a new blank file/template and the
styles available have been pre-defined for the particular job.

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Carol - 16 Jun 2006 17:17 GMT

See: http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/styles/TipsOnStyles.html

Signature

Carol A. Bratt, MCP

> I am using Word 2003. Use it extensively, but must be missing some basics. I
> use styles extensively, but I assume all of my styles are now in normal.dot.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> manuals, one for tips, etc. I want to open a new blank file/template and the
> styles available have been pre-defined for the particular job.

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extreme_dad - 16 Jun 2006 18:14 GMT

Wow, wish I had found that soon thanks.

So, I have I have five basic documents I use, I create a template or .dot
file for each (i.e. manuals.dot, letters.dot, etc.). These template files
will have the desired styles used for each of the five basic documents.

If I want to start with a blank document (i.e. manuals.dot) I will go to new
and choose manuals.dot. Then I would save the file as a .doc.

While in a doc file (created from manual.dot), I can update the styles, and
if I have Add to Template turned on in the Modify style dialog, all other
docs started with the manuals.doc will be updated.

(I saw the three ways in which the document and its template can change one
another's styles.)

> See: http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/styles/TipsOnStyles.html
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> > manuals, one for tips, etc. I want to open a new blank file/template and the
> > styles available have been pre-defined for the particular job.

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Carol - 16 Jun 2006 19:46 GMT

Sounds like you're off and running dad!

Signature

Carol A. Bratt, MCP

> Wow, wish I had found that soon thanks.
>
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> > > manuals, one for tips, etc. I want to open a new blank file/template and the
> > > styles available have been pre-defined for the particular job.

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Charles Kenyon - 16 Jun 2006 18:40 GMT

Normal.dot is a template, it is the grand-daddy of all templates. Generally
I do not base important documents on normal.dot, but on custom templates.
What you want is custom document templates. For more on the different kinds
of templates, tabs on the file new dialog, and locations of templates
folders see http://addbalance.com/usersguide/templates.htm. I keep most of
my customizations in other templates, either document templates or global
templates.

Signature

Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide

See also the MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/ which is awesome!
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>I am using Word 2003. Use it extensively, but must be missing some basics.
>I
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> the
> styles available have been pre-defined for the particular job.

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Suzanne S. Barnhill - 16 Jun 2006 20:15 GMT

See “Normal.dot Template—Explained”
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=151

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