Sub Open_Word_Doc()
    Dim WRD As Object, aDoc as object
    On Error Resume Next
    Set WRD = GetObject(, "Word.Application")
    If Err.Number Then
      Err.Clear
      Set WRD = CreateObject("Word.Application")
    End If
    On Error GoTo 0
    With WRD
      .Visible = True
      .Application.WindowState = wdWindowStateMaximize
      .Application.ScreenUpdating = True
      set aDoc = .Documents.Add Template:="[Path to .dot file]", NewTemplate:=False
      With aDoc.Variables
        .Item("varAuth").Value = "None"
        .Item("varProjNum").Value = "0"
        .Item("varProjName").Value = "None"
        .Item("varDefl").Value = 0
      End With
      aDoc.Bookmarks("Width").Range.Text = ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(1).Cells(1,1).Value
      
      ''If you need to also call a userform to provide more parameters to pass into Word, do it here using a userform created in Excel

      aDoc.Range.Fields.Update
    End With
    Set aDoc = Nothing
    Set WRD = Nothing
 End Sub

set aDoc = .Documents.Add Template:="[Path to .dot file]", NewTemplate:=False