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Michelle - 07 Jan 2005 15:49 GMT

I would like word to open with a different default template not the normal
template. can this be done and how. I also do not want the user to be able
to use the normal template. Only the one I specify

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Jay Freedman - 07 Jan 2005 17:05 GMT

> I would like word to open with a different default template not the
> normal template. can this be done and how. I also do not want the
> user to be able to use the normal template. Only the one I specify

In general terms, no, you can't. When Word starts without any special
instructions on the command line, it uses Normal.dot to create a new blank
document.

You can, however, supply a desktop shortcut that starts Word with a specific
template. See the description of the /t startup switch at
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=210565. Note that the "templatename" must
follow immediately after the /t with no intervening space, and if you need
to include the template's path and it contains any spaces, you must put
double quotes around it.

IMHO, locking down Word so it can't use any but a specific template is akin
to buying an expensive car and putting a governor on the engine that limits
it to walking speed. What's the point? Wouldn't training the users be more
reasonable?

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Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org

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Joseph N. - 07 Jan 2005 19:48 GMT

Is it possible to start Word 2002 so that, instead of loading
<normal.dot>, it displays the dialog that would normally come up when
choosing 'new document' and then 'general templates,' i.e., the
dialog with the choice of templates?

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JN

jbn 'won'oh'won'six'won' at fastmail.fm
Remove spaces, and substitute digits for the words between " ' "

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Jay Freedman - 07 Jan 2005 21:04 GMT

> Is it possible to start Word 2002 so that, instead of loading
> <normal.dot>, it displays the dialog that would normally come up when
> choosing 'new document' and then 'general templates,' i.e., the
> dialog with the choice of templates?

Yep! Create a desktop shortcut to WinWord.exe [by right-clicking it in
Explorer and selecting Send To > Desktop (create shortcut)]. Open the
Properties of the shortcut. At the end of the Target entry, after the
closing quotes, type a space and

/mFileNewDialog

Click OK and then try your new shortcut.

Signature

Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org

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Joseph N. - 09 Jan 2005 00:48 GMT

> At the end of the Target entry, after the
> closing quotes, type a space and
>
> /mFileNewDialog

Outstanding info, Jay; thank you. One follow-up question: if I
put this same shortcut onto the All Users desktop (it's a multi-
user machine), will it load the unique set of templates for each
user appropriately?

Signature

JN

jbn 'won'oh'won'six'won' at fastmail.fm
Remove spaces, and substitute digits for the words between " ' "

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Jay Freedman - 09 Jan 2005 04:13 GMT

>> At the end of the Target entry, after the
>> closing quotes, type a space and
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>user machine), will it load the unique set of templates for each
>user appropriately?

I really don't know -- all three of my machines have only one user
each. I believe it would work, since the path to the user's Templates
folder is unique to that user's profile. You can easily check by
setting up the shortcut and trying it from two different logins.
Please let us know what you find out!

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org

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