Applying a custom template to existing document

[MD]

Hi there,
I am having trouble applying a custom template to an existing document in
Word 2003 Pro. I did it the first time successfully using Toos>Templates
andAdd ins>Attach{custom template.dot} (making sure that the template is
alsolisted and checked in the "Checked items are currently loaded" box.
However, that was the only time it worked. Now, every time I try to attach
the template to any of the documents, it does not seem to "stick" and the
styles are not visible at all in the Styles and Formatting box (I tried
viewing it inCustom/All Styles/Available Styles, etc., to no avail).

The only way that I can get my custom styles to show is to check off the
box"Automatically update document styles", but doing this creates such a mess
of the document that it's more work to clean than is worth it.

Can anyone advise as to what I may be doing wrong and how I can get my
custom template styles to apply and show in the styles and formatting bar?
Any help would be very much appreciated; it's driving me crazy!

 

[Stefan Blom]

I'm not sure what the problem could be, but have you tried the opposite
approach--that is, creating a new document based on the template and then
inserting the existing document via Insert | File?

 

[MD]

Thank you Stefan, that does the trick. The styles are now listed in the
formatting toolbar and now I can go through and apply them.

Appreciate the help!

 

[Stefan Blom]

You are welcome--and thank you for the feedback.