A template is a kind of document which creates a copy of itself when you open it. So, if you are using some word documents frequently then it makes sense to create a template. Microsoft Office 2007 allows you to create a template by saving a document as a .dotx file, .dot file or .dotm file (.dotm file type enables to use macros in the file).
For example, a letterhead is a frequently used document in any organization/firm. Letterhead usually consists name, address and logo of an organization and sometimes a background pattern. Instead of creating a document having such fixed info. from scratch, you can use a template with a predefined page layout, fonts and margins. All you have to do is open a template document fill in some text and info. that is specific to your document. Upon saving a document as a .doc(x) or .docm file, you save your document separately from the template on which it is based.
To create documents based on this template, click the Microsoft Office Button and select New. Click My Templates in the left pane. In the box that opens, select your template and click Ok. The opened file will function like a template but it's just a copy of template as a standard document type.
For example, a letterhead is a frequently used document in any organization/firm. Letterhead usually consists name, address and logo of an organization and sometimes a background pattern. Instead of creating a document having such fixed info. from scratch, you can use a template with a predefined page layout, fonts and margins. All you have to do is open a template document fill in some text and info. that is specific to your document. Upon saving a document as a .doc(x) or .docm file, you save your document separately from the template on which it is based.
Save as a template
You can start with a blank document and save it as a template, or you can create a template that is based on an existing document. For the sake of simplicity, we will see how to create a template from a blank document.
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| Save As - Word Template |
- Click the Microsoft Office Button on extreme top-left corner, and then click New.
- Click Blank document, and then click Create.
- Make the necessary changes that you want to the page layouts, margin settings, font styles, Headers & footers, etc. You can also add instructional text and content controls such as date pickers, and image that you want to appear in all new documents that you base on the template.
- Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Save As.
- In the Save As dialog box, do one of the following:
- On a computer that is running Windows Vista, under Favorite Links, click Templates.
- On a computer that is running Windows XP, under Save in, click Trusted Templates.
- Give the new template an appropriate file name, Select Word Template in the Save as type list, and then click Save.
- Close the template.
By default, user template files are stored in following locations:
In Windows XP
C:\Documents and Settings\<your_account_name>\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates
In Windows Vista or Windows 7
C:\Users\<your_account_name>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates