Resetting Word template (Normal.dot)

[James B. Holladay]

On occasion you have to delete the Normal.dot template to in order for Word
to rebuild it.
I recent had a corrupted template (the standard template which opens when
you open word to start a letter) and spent hours trying to clear it so Word
could create a new default template.
In Win 98

 

[Stefan Blom]

Note that it is recommended to *rename* normal.dot instead of deleting it,
in case you have customizations such as toolbars, AutoText and so on, that
you want to salvage.

To locate normal.dot, you can search for it in Windows (Windows key + F); be
sure to search hidden files and folders.

 

[Terry Farrell]

Try keeping changes to the normal.dot to a minimum so that it remains small
and far lest likely to corrupt. Just restrict changes to the font and page
setup and it should be fine.

If you have masses of AutoText, macros and other customisations, store them
in a specific template reserved for such and place it in the Word Start-up
folder. Everything in that template will be available 'globally' to all your
documents.

If you have a need to use a particular template all the time, you can either
change the start parameters so that Word always opens to a new document from
that template or add a link to the template on your desktop. Double=clicking
a template link on the desktop opens a new document by default.

Terry Farrell - MSWord MVP

 

[James B. Holladay]

Many thanks for the wise tips.
James

Try keeping changes to the normal.dot to a minimum so that it remains small
and far lest likely to corrupt. Just restrict changes to the font and page
setup and it should be fine.

If you have masses of AutoText, macros and other customisations, store them
in a specific template reserved for such and place it in the Word Start-up
folder. Everything in that template will be available 'globally' to all your
documents.

If you have a need to use a particular template all the time, you can either
change the start parameters so that Word always opens to a new document from
that template or add a link to the template on your desktop. Double=clicking
a template link on the desktop opens a new document by default.

Terry Farrell - MSWord MVP