Word 365.I have customized Normal.dotm and I have older Word 16 documents that need updating to the new customizations.


When I press the "Refresh Normal Styles" on the ribbon in a file to be updated, the styles do not update correctly. The normal style is not correct and some of the new styles that appear in the document are not in Normal dot. Any suggestions on how to fix this? Further, I'm not even sure the "Refresh Normal Styles" is using the one in "Microsoft templates". I keep a copy of Normal dot in a backup folder in case I need it.

1. The Normal Template must be kept in the User Templates folder to be used by Word. I do not know whether your Microsoft Templates folder is your user templates folder. If not in that folder, Word will not use it as its Normal template although it will be recognized as a document template. Only Word can create a fully-furnctional Normal template.
2. I have never heard of a "Refresh Normal Styles" button on the Ribbon. This may be something you've added. Which Ribbon Tab are you seeing this on?
3. You can Automatically Update Styles using the checkbox on the Templates and Add-Ins dialog. This dialog can be reached from the Document Template button on the Developer Tab. It updates styles from the attached template when the document is opened (or after the box is checked and the dialog box is closed). This should not be left checked, especially when the Normal template is the attached template. What happens when I send my document to someone else? Will Word mess up my formatting?
4. There are a number of methods.

• Update Styles Options
• Macros to Copy Styles from the Normal Template
• Macro to copy styles from one template to another - Microsoft Community
• A Global StyleSheet in Microsoft Word?

Yes normal dot is in my user folder: C:\Users\John\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates


I'm not sure how to say which ribbon tab I'm seeing it on.


Would I have to use Templates and Add-ins dialog on each file? I assume so.

Refresh normal styles is on the Quick Access tool bar. I did not create Refresh normal styles. Is this a macro on the tool bar? I don't have a macro by that name.

John, I do not know what the command is. ;It could be a macro; the macro name does not need to match what is showing on the QAT.

It could be a Word command, but I do not know which one.

You have to update the styles in every document that needs it, yes. Whatever method is used.

If a macro, you could run it on every document in a folder using a bulk processor.

• Batch Folder Process Add-In by Greg Maxey
• Document Batch Processes by Graham Mayor, MVP

The simplest thing to do is ask the person who added it to our QAT, though.