I'm using Word 2003 under XP Home Edition.

I've created and saved some Word macros that work pretty well for me. But now I want to move them over to another computer and I'm unable to find the normal.dot file that I believe should contain them. (A search of my hard drive does turn up a normal.dot file, but it is date-stamped March 19, 2014. And I created one of these macros just this month. So that can't be the correct file, can it?

Some time back I sought help in another forum, but couldn't find the answer, so I gave up for a while and just continued to use the macros on my old failing hand-me-down laptop. But I've reached the point where I really need to move these macros over to another more reliable computer.

I'd be grateful if you could tell me what information I would need to post here to give you enough clues to help me track down storage location of my macros.

Or do you think this problem would be more appropriately posted in the VBA forum?

Will in Seattle


a.k.a. "Clueless"

Normal Template in Microsoft Word - How to Find or Open the Normal Template

Thanks, Charles Kenyon! That did the trick! It turned up the current normal.dot file that had been there, "hiding" in plain sight all the time.

I've learned that my problem was that the Search program for the version of Windows XP that's installed on my hand-me-down laptop doesn't initially search for hidden and system files, even though I have my folder options set to "show hidden files and folders." As I now understand it, in order to search for hidden and system files and folders I must first run a pointless search that will turn up nothing, and only then will I be given an option to repeat the same search to "include hidden and system files."

Thanks again for putting me on the track of that elusive file (and for the opportunity to learn something new about this old operating system).

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"

You are welcome. By the way, I generally advise folks to store their customizations in a separate Global Template outside the normal template. It makes them much more portable.