How do I preset the number of columns in Word?

[Guest]

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am an old-time user of MS Word, and recalling that, I can´t stand that
weird problem that´s been troubling my mind since I installed Office XP,
early this year.
Whenever I open a new file, it starts with 2 columns instead of the normal
number of 1. It´s a silly thing, but it gets me on my nerves to have to
change it everytime! I set the preset number to 1, but I think it´s not
working. So, am I doing something wrong, or it´s a program´s fault?
Forgive me of my english! I´m an Argentinian boy.
Thanks a lot, you all!
Nicolás.-

 

[Jay Freedman]

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am an old-time user of MS Word, and recalling that, I can´t stand that
weird problem that´s been troubling my mind since I installed Office XP,
early this year.
Whenever I open a new file, it starts with 2 columns instead of the normal
number of 1. It´s a silly thing, but it gets me on my nerves to have to
change it everytime! I set the preset number to 1, but I think it´s not
working. So, am I doing something wrong, or it´s a program´s fault?
Forgive me of my english! I´m an Argentinian boy.
Thanks a lot, you all!
Nicolás.-

Hi Nicolás,

Your Normal.dot template, which is the base for new blank documents,
has somehow become formatted for two columns. This isn't necessarily
because of something you did -- many people have complained here that
text or formatting from existing documents has become stuck in
Normal.dot -- but we don't know the cause.

The method for removing the formatting is described at
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/BlankDocNotBlank.htm,