I want word to default to a certain template when I run from the desktop. (I
don't want to replace normal.dot.) The Word helpfile (after a lot of
searching) says you can use a /t switch from the command line (the Run
command from the Start menu) to specify a template name. However, the Run
command doesn't seem to recognise anything with a "/" symbol after the
filename. Is there a compatibility problem here? How can I achieve this? Can
it be done from a shortcut?

The full path for winword.exe must be enclosed in quotes. The slash must be
outside the quotes, preceded by a space; the template name must follow the
slash without a space, and its full path must also be enclosed in quotes.
For more, see “WD: Word Startup (Command-Line) Switches and Their Purpose”
at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=210565

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

"Steve" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cqp6ro$ffg$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I want word to default to a certain template when I run from the desktop.
(I
> don't want to replace normal.dot.) The Word helpfile (after a lot of
> searching) says you can use a /t switch from the command line (the Run
> command from the Start menu) to specify a template name. However, the Run
> command doesn't seem to recognise anything with a "/" symbol after the
> filename. Is there a compatibility problem here? How can I achieve this?
Can
> it be done from a shortcut?
>
>

Suzanne provided you with the info for using the /t switch, however
why not just create a shortcut to your template and use it instead?
The default action for Word templates is to create a new document
based on the template rather than opening the template for editing.

Personally I prefer this method since if I want to open the template
for editing I can right-click the shortcut and select "Open".

--
Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/


"Steve" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cqp6ro$ffg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I want word to default to a certain template when I run from the
>desktop. (I don't want to replace normal.dot.) The Word helpfile
>(after a lot of searching) says you can use a /t switch from the
>command line (the Run command from the Start menu) to specify a
>template name. However, the Run command doesn't seem to recognise
>anything with a "/" symbol after the filename. Is there a
>compatibility problem here? How can I achieve this? Can it be done
>from a shortcut?
>

It works!

Thanks for both solutions.

Steve


"Steve" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cqp6ro$ffg$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I want word to default to a certain template when I run from the desktop.
>(I don't want to replace normal.dot.) The Word helpfile (after a lot of
>searching) says you can use a /t switch from the command line (the Run
>command from the Start menu) to specify a template name. However, the Run
>command doesn't seem to recognise anything with a "/" symbol after the
>filename. Is there a compatibility problem here? How can I achieve this?
>Can it be done from a shortcut?
>