Microsoft Office Forums

Go Back   Microsoft Office Forums > >

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-16-2019, 07:28 AM
Maysona Maysona is offline How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Windows 10 How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Office 2019
Novice
How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx)
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 1
Maysona is on a distinguished road
Lightbulb How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx)

Hello. I have not used custom templates for many years; however, I remember that it used to be that once you created a template and saved it *as a template* (now .dotx) when you would double-click that file, it would automatically open an unnamed document. Document1, Document2, Document3, etc...

I am using Office 360 and cannot seem to find an answer to how to do this. Yes, I have double checked my file type. It is .dotx. Yes, I know I can make it read only forcing a Save As. However, these are not the answers I am looking for.

Is it possible to force Word to open an unnamed document from double clicking a template. I use this template a lot for my course I am taking, but it has different settings (Font, Size, Headers, Margins, etc..) than a different course I have. Want to make templates for each that I can double-click and use as needed.



Can anyone help?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-16-2019, 09:14 AM
Charles Kenyon Charles Kenyon is offline How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Windows 10 How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Office 2016
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Posts: 9,083
Charles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant future
Default

Right-click on it.
It should give some actions.
The darkest one is the default action.
What is it?


Is that true of another template?


If the default action is Open rather than New, for all templates, then I would try Quick Repair (takes 5 - 10 mins) , if that doesn't help then try Online Repair (Takes more than 30 mins but less than 1 hour in general)

https://support.office.com/en-us/art...e-a6b40c5bb88b


If it is the default for this template but not others, I would open the template and use File > Save As to save it as a dotx template again.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-12-2019, 12:57 PM
GeorgeWilliam GeorgeWilliam is offline How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Windows 10 How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Office 2019
Novice
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3
GeorgeWilliam is on a distinguished road
Default Bump

Replying Because I am having the same issue. Right clicking a .dotx file shows "Edit" as the darkened default option. Right clicking an excel template (.xltx) has "New" as the default option and opens a new spreadsheet as desired.

I already ran quick repair (no effect) and plan on running online repair tonight when I leave work.

Using Windows 10 Pro and Office 365.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-12-2019, 01:35 PM
Charles Kenyon Charles Kenyon is offline How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Windows 10 How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Office 2016
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Posts: 9,083
Charles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant future
Default

Right back in the online repair does not fix it.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-12-2019, 06:57 PM
Guessed's Avatar
Guessed Guessed is offline How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Windows 10 How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Office 2016
Expert
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Canberra/Melbourne Australia
Posts: 3,932
Guessed has a brilliant futureGuessed has a brilliant futureGuessed has a brilliant futureGuessed has a brilliant futureGuessed has a brilliant futureGuessed has a brilliant futureGuessed has a brilliant futureGuessed has a brilliant futureGuessed has a brilliant futureGuessed has a brilliant futureGuessed has a brilliant future
Default

I would have thought this was an issue that would be fixed by re-registering Word. See Charles' instruction page here http://www.addbalance.com/word/reregister.htm
__________________
Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-13-2019, 07:47 AM
GeorgeWilliam GeorgeWilliam is offline How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Windows 10 How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Office 2019
Novice
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3
GeorgeWilliam is on a distinguished road
Default

Ran the online repair and tried re registering Word. Neither fixed the issue. Files with .dotx still open in word and edit the template rather than opening a new instance.

Is that the intentded function? I've made tons of excel templates and they always open a new instance when double clicking the file. I expected word templates would work the same.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-13-2019, 09:02 AM
GeorgeWilliam GeorgeWilliam is offline How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Windows 10 How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Office 2019
Novice
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3
GeorgeWilliam is on a distinguished road
Default

Update: Tried changing my file to a .dot and a .dotm. Both of these have "New" as the darkened bold option when I right click and open a new instance as expected. Checked shell registry keys for all three file types and they're all configued to open new....so I'm not sure why .dot and .dotm are working correctly and the .dotx is not.

At any rate, the Macro Enabled Template will work for the moment. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Steps to check file assosciations and registry key entries:
http://icrontic.com/discussion/85241

Registry keys:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Word. Template.8\shell
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Word. Template.12\shell
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Word. TemplateMacroEnabled.12\shell
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-13-2019, 01:15 PM
Charles Kenyon Charles Kenyon is offline How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Windows 10 How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Office 2016
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Posts: 9,083
Charles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant future
Default

Do not make the change to .dot from .dotx or .dotm from Windows. You must use SaveAs withing Word.

The designed way for templates to work in Word is to create a new document based on and attached to the template.Templates in Microsoft Word


What is the relationship between a Microsoft Word document and its template?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-18-2019, 09:30 AM
StolzHerz StolzHerz is offline How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Windows 10 How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Office 2019
Novice
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 1
StolzHerz is on a distinguished road
Arrow Fix in Registry

I had the same problem (double-click on an .dotx file opened the template in edit mode, instead creating an new document), and fixed it with this steps:

1. Open Registry Editor (Win+R, type "regedit", OK)

2. Open node "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT"

3. Scroll down to find the file extension ".dotx"

4. Under ".dotx", i had a sub-node "OpenWithProgids". In this node I had a key "AppX7fwc15xee6p472wfc9xdvg9097qheffa". BE SURE THAT THIS PROGID is IDENTICALLY ON YOUR SYSTEM. Otherwise continue with the string you found in your key.

5. Find in Registry (Ctrl+F) for "AppX7fwc15xee6p472wfc9xdvg9097qheffa" (OR YOUR KEY STRING)

6. If you can find a node, continue. If not: That's not the Solution for your, SORRY

07. Open node "AppX7fwc15xee6p472wfc9xdvg9097qheffa". There is a sub-node "Shell". Under "Shell you have more nodes like "Edit", "New", "open" etc.

08. On node "Shell", you have a Key with name "(Default)", Data="open".
--> Modify that, set value to "New". Click on OK button.

Test the solution:
Go to a .dotx file. RIGHT-click on it. in the context-menu, the bold (default) command should be "New". If you double-click on the .dotx file, Word opens with a new "Document1"
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-18-2019, 10:25 AM
Charles Kenyon Charles Kenyon is offline How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Windows 10 How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Office 2016
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Posts: 9,083
Charles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant futureCharles Kenyon has a brilliant future
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by StolzHerz View Post
I had the same problem (double-click on an .dotx file opened the template in edit mode, instead creating an new document), and fixed it with this steps:

1. Open Registry Editor (Win+R, type "regedit", OK)


***

Test the solution:
Go to a .dotx file. RIGHT-click on it. in the context-menu, the bold (default) command should be "New". If you double-click on the .dotx file, Word opens with a new "Document1"

I expect this worked for you. Thank you for posting it.


That said, in most cases the reregistering or online repair will fix the problem, though.

If dealing with the registry, it is important to save a backup first.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 12-26-2020, 08:50 PM
penguin penguin is offline How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Windows 10 How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Office 2019
Novice
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 1
penguin is on a distinguished road
Default

Hello, I am very sorry for the massive bump. I am a IT technician for a university and I had received the exact same situation: .dotx would not open as a new document (only edit). I had spent several hours troubleshooting this ordeal, including all the techniques described on this thread. However, below is how I resolved the ordeal:

Who was impacted?

34 computers impacted with .dotx error with >300 unimpacted; 28 running Windows 10 Enterprise with Office 2019 ProPlus. Additionally, 6 running Windows 10 Education with a Office 365 A3 for students. All computers on Build 2004 64-bit, running 64-bit versions of Office products, and running Symantec Endpoint Protection for antivirus. 2 computers impacted had local administrator users with the rest lacking administrative access.

tl;dr Win10 with Office 2019 ProPlus + Win10 with O365.

How did you resolve your errorr?


1. Open Registry Editor with administrator

2. Open node "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT"

3. Scroll down to find the file extension ".dotx"

4. Right click on ".dotx" and export the entire branch "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dotx"

5. Right click on ".dotx" and delete entire branch

Test the solution:
Double click on any '.dotx' file and see if it is a new document or not. You may have to reaffiliate .dotx with Office which can be done with Guessed's hyperlink: My docs open in the wrong program! Re-registering Word using the commandline.

I hope this helped for you. If it didn't, you can double click the previously exported ".reg" file to configure things to exactly how it was before deleting this directory.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
create from template, templates, unnamed documents

Thread Tools
Display Modes


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) How do force Word to use normal.dotx template? wiganken Word 11 07-22-2018 12:03 AM
How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Insert a number by double Clicking byrner Excel Programming 4 05-20-2018 09:07 AM
How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Can't open Word files when double-clicking JosieNurse Word 9 04-21-2015 11:31 AM
How to force Word to open an unnamed doc when double-clicking a custom template (.dotx) Custom button to open template magnuspeccator Word 1 02-22-2013 04:47 AM
Can I separate a word Doc (docx) from the template used to create it (dotx)? paulnevlud Word 2 12-14-2009 10:13 AM

Other Forums: Access Forums

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:39 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
MSOfficeForums.com is not affiliated with Microsoft