 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussionsAccessExcelInfoPathOutlookPowerPointPublisherWordDirectoryUser Groups Related Topics Outlook ExpressInternet ExplorerWindowsMS Server ProductsMore Topics ... |
MS Office Forum / Word / Menus and Toolbars / January 2004Customizing Normal.dot
How can I minipulate Word 2002 to open a default template I created rather than the normal.dot template. I know I could customize normal.dot but I was told that is not a good idea. Besides wouldn't it be better to use a different named template to help prevent the spread of viruses running on normal? Normal.dot is *intended* to store your defaults. Don't be afraid to edit it. For specific document types create document templates.  Signature<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<> Graham Mayor - Word MVP E-mail gmayor@mvps.org Web site www.gmayor.com Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<> > How can I minipulate Word 2002 to open a default template I created > rather than the normal.dot template. I know I could customize > normal.dot but I was told that is not a good idea. Besides wouldn't > it be better to use a different named template to help prevent the > spread of viruses running on normal? >How can I minipulate Word 2002 to open a default template I created rather >than the normal.dot template. I know I could customize normal.dot but I was >told that is not a good idea. Besides wouldn't it be better to use a >different named template to help prevent the spread of viruses running on >normal? Hi, Kay, If you want Word to open with a "blank" document based on a template other than Normal.dot, then create a separate desktop shortcut for the Word program, view its Properties dialog, and add a space followed by /tMyTemplate.dot after the name of the program (Winword.exe). [Notes: (a) If the template's name contains a space, you have to enclose it in quotes. (b) If Word says it can't find the file, use the complete path to the User Templates folder, as listed in the Tools > Options > File Locations dialog.] Use this shortcut to start Word with your template, and use the original shortcut to open it with the usual Normal.dot-based document. You certainly can customize Normal.dot, but there are certain things you should avoid and certain things you should do. Here are a couple of articles on the subject: Normal.dot TemplateExplained http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=151 How to change the default settings for Word documents http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/Customization/CustomizeNormalTemplate.htm Among the Don't items: - Don't put visible text into Normal.dot, because it will show up in documents that shouldn't have it, such as labels from the Tools > Envelopes and Labels dialog. This sort of stuff belongs in separate templates that you use through File > New or a separate shortcut. - Don't load up Normal.dot with tons of macros and toolbars. If the template becomes corrupted or is attacked by a virus, you would have to restore these items from a backup or recreate them from scratch. It's better to store them in a global template (one stored in Word's Startup folder). As dire as this warning sounds, I should point out that many people, myself included, have never lost a Normal.dot to corruption or viruses. Chief among the Do items: Back up everything, including Normal.dot, on a regular schedule. -- Regards, Jay Freedman Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word I stand to be corrected, but if you make a mess of the norrmal.dot file, just delete it. When you open Word again, it restores a default copy of normal.dot - kind of like when you first install Word. Obviously, this is no good if you have important macros and stuff in the old one, but at least you can practice without doing any damage. If you are scared to delete it, rename it to something else and then open Word and see what happens. > >How can I minipulate Word 2002 to open a default template I created rather > >than the normal.dot template. I know I could customize normal.dot but I was [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > Jay Freedman > Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word It is always preferable to rename rather than delete normal.dot so that customizations may be recovered from the original. Signature<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<> Graham Mayor - Word MVP E-mail gmayor@mvps.org Web site www.gmayor.com Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<> > I stand to be corrected, but if you make a mess of the norrmal.dot > file, just delete it. When you open Word again, it restores a default [quoted text clipped - 56 lines] >> Jay Freedman >> Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.