How do I change my Normal template?

[defreeed]

I found this site helpful. It assumes you understand to click 'OK' to save
settings changes, but otherwise steps you through the process:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-6137320.html

 

[Stefan Blom]

You may also want to take a look at this article:

http://blogs.msdn.com/microsoft_off...e-formatting-in-your-document-consistent.aspx

 

[vhg]

Hi all,
Ok, I've been struggling with the same issue in trying to change the default
document line spacing for Word 2007 & I believe I may have figured something
out - no thanks to microsoft, just trial & error. If anyone is interested
try the following:

Open a new document.
From the "Home" tab go over to "Styles" & click on the down arrow at the
bottom right corner of that "Styles" box.
You should see a list of Styles.
If you run your cursor over the "Normal" style you should see a drop down
arrow, click this.
From the next menu, click Modify.
In the next dialogue box make all the changes you'd like to have to your
default document - line spacing, fonts, (you can even change paragraph
settings), etc.
Before clicking ok, make sure you select "New Documents Based On This
Template".
Then click ok.
From there, just save this document & close it.
When you create a new document, it should have the new settings saved for
your default document.... it worked for me anyway.
Good luck!!

 

[Peter T. Daniels]

That's the same procedure for modifying a style as in Word2003. A
quicker way to get at the Styles panel is Ctrl-Alt-Shift-S.

 

[Cheryl Flanders]

A quicker way is Ctrl + Shift + S to open the styles dialog box. No
need for the Alt key.

Cheryl

 

[Peter T. Daniels]

?! In all these years, no one has mentioned that. I've been using the
three buttons since someone mentioned it here. I see from my Word-
generated Keyboard Shortcuts list printed 9/7/05 that the two-button
and not the three-button version is listed.

 

[Cheryl Flanders]

Ctrl + Shift + S is the built-in shortcut in Word 97 through 2007.

Cheryl

 

[Stefan Blom]

But note that the Apply Styles pane (Ctrl+Shift+S) doesn't have all the
options of the Styles pane (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S).

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP



?! In all these years, no one has mentioned that. I've been using the
three buttons since someone mentioned it here. I see from my Word-
generated Keyboard Shortcuts list printed 9/7/05 that the two-button
and not the three-button version is listed.

 

[Stefan Blom]

But it works differently in Word 2007 than it did in previous versions.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP



Ctrl + Shift + S is the built-in shortcut in Word 97 through 2007.

Cheryl

 

[Peter T. Daniels]

I just remembered to check this out -- I don't see the use of the
Apply Styles panel: it seems that it does (some of) the same things as
the Styles and Formatting panel, but with one more click (on the
dropdown in order to select the style you want).

 

[Stefan Blom]

A good thing about the Apply Styles pane is that you can *type* a style
name; Word will autocomplete it and you can then press Enter to apply it.

Note that if you type a nonexisting style name, pressing Enter will create
such a style (as a paragraph style).

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP



I just remembered to check this out -- I don't see the use of the
Apply Styles panel: it seems that it does (some of) the same things as
the Styles and Formatting panel, but with one more click (on the
dropdown in order to select the style you want).

 

[Peter T. Daniels]

I tried typing a new style name. It created it and applied it to the
paragraph the cursor was in -- but the method doesn't save any
keystrokes over the New Style button on Styles & Formatting, because
you have to choose Modify in order to make it into a different style.

 

[Stefan Blom]

Actually, if you first apply direct formatting to text, typing a style name
and pressing Enter will incorporate that formatting into the style you are
creating.

Of course, which method you prefer is largely a matter of taste.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP



I tried typing a new style name. It created it and applied it to the
paragraph the cursor was in -- but the method doesn't save any
keystrokes over the New Style button on Styles & Formatting, because
you have to choose Modify in order to make it into a different style.

 

[Jim Scanlan]

Finally, a straight-forward answer. (The help in Word 2007 was not helpful
at all for doing this.) BTW, I'm a Technical Writer.

 

[Stefan Blom]

You are welcome.

 

[RachelK]

Thank you so much - I've been trying to figure out how to change the normal
template in 2007 for months! None of the help instructions were clear enough.
Just stated "...Open the template and make sure you have the template open
before you make changes..."
Thanks again!

 

[techcnc]

I agree. Why on earth would they change the default document to space 1.15
anyway. No one types documents with that kind of spacing. I am a teacher
and it is annoying to have to explain to each student how to change their
document every time they open it up. I've had no luck yet figuring out how
to change the templete. Wasting my valuable time I need to planning for class!

 

[techcnc]

It is easy enough to change the normal.dotm template. But what is normal
spacing anyway? There was probably a good reason to make it 1.15. I changed
mine to 1.0 just because I like round numbers.

 

[Stefan Blom]

See http://word.mvps.org/faqs/customization/CustomizeNormalTemplate.htm.

 

[Jay Freedman]

Setting it to "Multiple" and 1.0 is the same as setting it to
"Single".

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
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