I'm using Word for Mac 2011 and running Lion on an iMac desktop.



What I want to do is create a new template and have it saved as a new normal.dotm. if I open a blank document, change the template and close Word, the old template comes back when I re-open. How can I fix this?

Also, is it possible to open a document created in the old normal and convert it to the new template. When I open a document the "Template" tab is grayed out.

Hi Ken,

You need to open the existing Normal.dot(x/m) file to modify it. On a Windows PC, at least, you can find where that template is stored via Word Options > Advanced > General > File Locations > User Templates. You may need to click on the latter and choose 'Modify' to see the full path.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Thanks, Paul. I think I figured it out, sort of. On the Mac, when trying to view normal.dotm you get only a blank screen. But I dug deep into Time Machine and found an old normal.dotm which brings back my macros. But I still have no resolution on the theme issue. I've been under the impression that if you change the theme, then the new theme becomes part of the normal.dotm, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I guess the theme applies only to the document on the screen. If that's the case, I have no idea how to change the default fonts and the default theme, which is what I'm trying to do.

I appreciate your response.

Ken

Hi Ken,

Normal.dot(x/m) is usually an empty document, hence the 'blank screen'. If you want to apply a theme to Normal.dot(x/m), I'd guess you have to edit it in the same way - I've never used themes, so I can't say for sure how they work. Default fonts and paragraph formatting, though, are certainly managed through Normal.dot(x/m) - simply modify the relevant Styles.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]