Styles and AutoText are not copied to a new template based on the Normal.dot template in Word 2002 (291441)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2002

This article was previously published under Q291441
For a Microsoft Word 2000 version of this article, see 236357.
For a Microsoft Word 97 version of this article, see 235347.

SYMPTOMS

When you create a new template that is based on your Normal.dot template, the following attributes are not copied to the new template:
  • All user-defined styles
  • Changes made to default (built-in) styles
  • Text that you typed in Normal.dot
  • Macros stored in the Normal.dot
  • Custom toolbars
  • Built-in AutoText entries (Attention Line, Closing, Header/Footer, Mailing Instructions, Reference Line, Salutation, and Subject Line)
Note This problem does not occur for any other template you may use to base your new template on.

CAUSE

When you create a new template based on the Blank Document by using the New Document task pane, any customizations that you make to the Normal template are not transferred to a new template.

WORKAROUND

To include all style definitions when you create a new template that is based on the Normal.dot template, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: Create a New Document Based on Normal

To create a new document that is based on Normal and save it as a template, follow these steps:
  1. On the File menu, click New.
  2. In the New Document task pane, click Blank Document.
  3. On the File menu, click Save As.
  4. In the Save As dialog box, change the Save as type box to Document Template (*.dot), and then click OK.

    Note You may want to change the file name before you save your new template.

Method 2: Use the Organizer

Copy the styles that you want from the Normal template into your new template by using the Organizer. To access the Organizer, click Templates and Add-Ins on the Tools menu. In the Templates and Add-Ins dialog box, click Organizer.

For more information about using the Organizer, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type Organizer in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

Method 3: Open Normal.dot and Create a New Template by Saving to a Different Template Name

Before you can perform these steps, you must know the location of your Normal.dot template. To find the location of your Normal.dot, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

291446 WD2002: Understanding the Template Path and Normal.dot

  1. On the File menu, click Open.
  2. In the Files of Type list, click Document Templates.
  3. Switch to the location of your Normal.dot template, click Normal.dot, and then click Open.
  4. On the File menu, click Save As.
  5. In the File name box, type the new name for your template, and then click Save.
When you view the Task Pane and then change to Styles and Formatting view, you notice that user-defined styles that are present in the Normal.dot template are not there.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/27/2006
Keywords:kbnewfile kbinfo kbprb kbtemplate kbusage KB291441