Creating a Clean Base Template File
When you create custom styles and macros in Microsoft Word, these customizations are often stored in the default
Normal.dot file on your computer. In addition, when you use Microsoft Word as your email editor in Microsoft Outlook, some other customizations can be stored in the default Normal.dot file. When you create a new Microsoft Word template, you want to use a clean Normal.dot file as the starting point for your template. Save the template file with a new name, and then customize the template as needed. To simplify your template use and maintenance, delete the unneeded styles, variables, autotext, and macros.To create a clean base template file
1. On the Tools menu in Microsoft Word, click Options.
2. On the File Locations tab, find where the User Templates are stored.
3. Close Microsoft Word and all other Microsoft Office products.
4. Open the folder where the User Templates are stored and rename the
Normal.dot file in that location in case you later need any customizations stored in that file. 5. Open Microsoft Word.
6. On the File menu, click Save As.
7. In Save as type, select Document Template (*.dot).
8. Specify the name and location for your new template, and then click Save.
You can customize the new template to meet your specific needs. To create a new tab in the Template Selection window in Microsoft Word, you can create a folder within the User Templates location. Then, you can store your new template in that folder.
Last modified date: 06/11/2024