I have created a document and saved it as a word template. If I open it by right click and Open everything works ok but if I open it by double clicking and want to save changes it wants to save as word document in My Documents and none of the hyperlinks I have inserted work. If it was just for myself it would be a minor inconvenience but I have created a copy for every pupil in the school where I work and it needs to be kept as simple as possible so classroom staff can edit it.


Btw I am using office 14 not 2013 as in my profile.

That is how templates work. Double-clicking on one creates a new document.
Templates in Microsoft Word

When that is saved, as a document, it will lose some of the attributes it had as a template, but it should not lose any text.

Hyperlinks in the document should work fine though. How were these created? What do they link to?

BTW Word 14 = Word 2010. I assume you are using Windows 8.

Thanks for the advice, as you will have gathered word processing is not one of my strong points.
I work in a school for children with physical disabilities, learning difficulties and autism. When it comes to accessing ICT every pupil has individual requirements, which led me to try and create a template for a document which each pupil would have in a named folder, containing their photo, information for anyone working with them about their access needs, use of external switches, eye gaze etc and also hyperlinks to other word documents containing assessment criteria etc. I used Insert and Hyperlink from the tool bar at the top of the page.
I think my problem has been that starting with limited knowledge I began by putting boxes into a word document and then found ways to tackle each problem as it arose, boxes moving around, photos needing resizing every time, text going missing. Eventually by grouping and ungrouping boxes and saving as a Word Template I ended up with something into which photos and text can be inserted without everything moving around but I’m not sure how stable it is overall.
Could I have done it differently? It needs to be easily accessible and have the facility to insert photos, paste in text and type in text directly and, hopefully, open with a double click.

What you are doing is the only way many of us learned how to use Word. Start doing stuff, making mistakes and asking online.

If you don't mind, send me a copy of your template and I will try to revamp it for you. It will have to wait for the weekend though.

Will this be used only on computers with Word 2007 and later?

As you may have gathered, "Template" is a term of art in Word. It is a highly specific subset of what we mean in the English language by that word. A document template is always used to create new documents when properly designed and used. If you double-click on a Word template in Word, a new document will be created by Word based on that template. This assumes that Word is properly installed.

Any document can contain a format and places to put information. The latter may be what you want. You can decipher my email address from the following: wordfaq[at]addbalance[dot]com.

If you are going to be using Word extensively or teaching your students to use it I strongly urge you to read the following (including all of the pages that follow it). It will save you endless frustration and is very well written.
Basic concepts of Microsoft Word: An introduction by Shauna Kelly

The author passed away before Word 2013 was introduced but the concepts and principles involved are valid with Word 2013. Her website still has great tips on using Word and is being maintained by volunteers.

Then, take some time to learn about Styles. They are at the heart of how Word works.

That's very generous of you, thanks, I will send a copy.

OK. I sent you back something to look at. Here, for others who may be interested, are my remarks.

What is it, again, that you are trying to accomplish with this?

Which Version of Word will be used to complete it?

What I enclose is based on your template very loosely. You have a bunch of shapes on a drawing canvas. Not sure of the reason for that.

I did a few things. First, I removed unneeded extra spaces at the end of your title.
I went to the Developer Tab and added three Content Controls. The first is a Picture Picker, then a plain text control and finally a Rich Text control. I copied one of the hyperlinks from your filled in template into the same place. Then I told Word that I wanted to restrict editing (Button on Developer Tab or on Review Tab). I selected “No changes.” Then I clicked in each of the Content Controls and made those exceptions for everyone. Finally, I started protection. I did not set a password.

Your hyperlink works fine in a new document created from the template. To save this as a template, right-click on the attachment to the email and instruct your computer to Save As. If you just double-click on it you may get a new document.

The Rich Text control let me put a bullet list in.

For more on Content Controls, see Greg Maxey’s page Word Content Controls. You may also want to look, at some time, at Repeating Data (Populating Multiple Like Fields).

Remember, Styles are the magic key to the kingdom of Word. I fought learning to use them for years, thinking that I didn't need to do that. Try pushing string or herding cats for a metaphor. If you don't use Styles and understand them, it seems like Word is working against you. Here are two articles. Shauna's is better written. Mine stretches over more material and is more of a hodge-podge. It has some very good resource links as well.

Tips for Understanding Styles in Word by Shauna Kelly
Understanding Styles in Microsoft Word
You may want to start with this video from Lynda.com: Why Use Styles?

Did that help?

Thanks Charles, you have been a great help.

I am now doing what I should what I should have done in the first place, gone back to the beginning to learn how to do it properly.

There is no substitute for reading the instructions on the box before tipping the pieces out onto the floor.

Once again, Thank you for your time and kindness.

You are welcome. Unfortunately, Word no longer comes with an instruction manual. MS trusts the help files to take care of that. The problem with the help files is you have to know where to look and what it is you are looking for.