In office 2000 the 'blank document' seen in 'file, new,' is normal.dot.  You
can confirm this by right-clicking on it and choosing properties.  In office
97 there was a way to open this for editing.  In office 2000 there is a way
to never open normal.dot but still change preferences in it.  I know because
I have done this.  However, now I can't seem to find the wizard or style
dialogue that I used.  Lately, I have been cheating and opening normal.dot
directly for edit.  Apply changes to the entire document and they become the
setting when you choose, File, New, blank document.  Remember to save it as
a template.  ALWAYS backup normal.dot before you change it.  Save it to a
new name and you can have two templates.  Normal.dot is in
c:\program files\microsoft office\templates

Tom Turak

-----Original Message-----
From: Ivy [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2002 10:18 AM


-----Original Message-----
I can't find the normal.dot template in Word so I can change the
defaults.
Can someone help? I'm running Windows 2000 with Office XP.
--------------------------

Hi -

I need to do this from memory, since I just upgraded to Office 2002, but
the steps are pretty much correct.

In Word, choose: File - Open.
The template dialog box opens.  You should find Normal.dot listed there.

DO NOT DOUBLE CLICK.
Instead, either right click on it and choose: Open, or, on the lower
right side there should be an option for open.

This should open Normal.dot.

Saving

I can't remember whether Word wants to save this as a document.  If it
does, use Save As Type to change to template.

Word will want to save it as a new template.
Instead, highlight Normal.dot from the list of files, and then save.
It will ask if you want to replace the existing template -- you say Yes.

Ivy Davis

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