Updating document styles

[TechWriter]

While adding a template to a document, using the Tools>Templates and
Add-ins route, one views a box which says Automatically update document
styles.

I added a template to a new and fresh document in this fashion and
checked this box. Just for the heck of it, I changed the Body Text
style font in the template, saved it and closed the template. But this
change was not reflected in the document. Is this the way it works? If
not how does it? Is this the right way to attach a template to a
document?

Thanx in advance,
TechWriter

 

[Stefan Blom]

Did you close and re-open the document after you modified the template?
This is required in order to trigger the automatic update.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


in message
news:[email protected]...

 

[TechWriter]

Yup, thanx, closing and re-opening the document did the trick. another
little question. While modifying a style one views check boxes in the
first dialog box you come across, which say, Add to Template and
Automatically Update. Could you please tell me their significance?

 

[Stefan Blom]

"Add to template" does exactly what it says: it adds the current
settings of the style in the document to the attached template. This is
a handy way to transfer formats to the template. Note that the "Add to
template" check box clears itself after each use, which means that you
must explicitly select it each time you want the style to be updated.

"Automatically update" is a setting for paragraph styles; it means that
direct formatting will be added to the style definition. For example, if
you change line spacing in a paragraph whose style has this option set,
the applied style will change to match the format -- and, consequently,
all paragraphs using that style. This is sometimes useful (especially
when modifying settings for TOC entries), but it can lead to confusion
if you are not familiar with the feature. See
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting/WholeDocumentReformatted.htm.

In summary, there are three "update" options that apply to paragraph
styles: You can transfer the current settings of a style to the template
via "Add to template" in the Modify Style dialog box. You can have a
style automatically pick up direct formatting ("Automatically update" in
the Modify Style dialog box). And you can update document styles based
on template settings ("Automatically update document styles" in the
Tools and Add-Ins dialog box).

 

[TechWriter]

i'm sorry, but I'm still a bit confused about the Add to Template and
Automatically Update options.

Suppose I were to open a previously created template and simultaneously
also create a new document and attach the template to it. If I effect
any direct formatting to any style in the document, as I understand, if
the Automatically Update option is checked for that style in the
template, then the changes will be refelected in the style in the
document. Am I right? Then how would Add to Template be of significance
in such a situation? Or would there be another situation where it may
be used?

Please explain giving an example...........Would be highly obliged for
the same.

 

[Shauna Kelly]

Hi TechWriter

To add to what Stefan said, or to put it in other words:

- in the Modify Style dialog, Automatically Update determines only how that
document behaves (ie document --> document )

- in the Modity Style dialog, when you modify a style in a document you can
add that change to the document's template (which is to say document -->
template)

- at Tools > Templates and Add-ins you can update a document's styles from
its template's styles (which is to say template --> document).

The following might help, too:
What is the relationship between a Word document and its template?
http://www.ShaunaKelly.com/word/templaterelations\index.html

and

What happens when I attach a new template to my document? or How do I copy
content and settings from a template to a document?"
http://www.ShaunaKelly.com/word/attachtemplate/index.html

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word

 

[Stefan Blom]

"Automatically update" is an option for styles and describes how it
handles direct formatting (that is, formatting which is not applied via
a style definition). When it is selected for a style, the option will
force the style to incorporate direct formatting added to a paragraph to
which the style is applied.

Of course, "Automatically update" can be applied to a template style as
well as to a document style. If it is in a template, it will be
transferred to the document upon creation. Similarly, when you attach a
new template to an existing document with "Automatically update document
styles" checked, the "Automatically update" setting (as well as other
style properties) will be transferred to the corresponding style in the
document.

"Add to template" and "Automatically update document styles" work in
different directions. "Add to template" is for explicitly adding the
style selected in the Modify Style dialog box to the attached template.
"Automatically update document styles" transfers styles from a template
to its attached document.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


in message
news:[email protected]...

 

[TechWriter]

Thanks a ton, Shauna and Stefan for your explanations and time.

 

[Stefan Blom]

You are welcome.