Hello:


I have a "boilerplate" document that I use in my lending business. It is a fill in the blank type of document. For loan #1, I use it by entering the property address, the name of the borrower, etc., and save it using the property address as the name of the document. Then, when I need to use the boilerplate for loan #2 I open the loan #1 document, and replace the property address, name of the borrower, etc., and save it with the address of property #2.

The problem is that, when I do this, Word saves my changes automatically, so when I close the property #2 document, and reopen the property #1 document, the changes are saved automatically to the property #1 document.

Any ideas on how to stop this from happening. I should add that I have been doing this for many years and did not have this problem until a month or so ago.

You should:

1. Be using a template, not a document. Templates in Microsoft Word When you double-click on a template, it creates a new document, unnamed.
2. Not be using the browser/online version of Word to edit your business documents, in my opinion. Differences between using a document in the browser and in Word

Explore the following:

• AutoText
• Boiler - Insert a selection of documents by Graham Mayor, MVP

I will take a look at that link. However, I am using Word on my computer, not online.

Thanks.

Have you got Autosave set ?

I'm not sure. I have unchecked the AutoRECOVER box, but I don't see an autoSAVE checkbox. How do I find that?

Thanks in advance for your help and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

AutoSave is either in the title bar at the top left corner of the Word window, or is on the left of the Quick Access Toolbar, as shown below.

This is undoubtedly the cause of the change in behaviour but, as Charles Kenyon indicated, if you were using Word correctly it wouldn't be an issue for you. Documents should always be created from a template (*.dotx/*.dotm), not an existing document (*.docx/*.docm).

Attached Images

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Thanks. I am a private lender and lend money to other real estate investors in my area. The reason I use an existing document is because it is a 15 page Mortgage Agreement, and the only things that change are the names and the address of the property. So, for an example, if I have lent funds to John Doe previously on 123 main street, and then John Doe comes back to me for funding on 234 Broad Street, I can open the "old" 123 Main St. mortgage document, and simply change the address of the property to 234 Broad Street and the date of the mortgage, since all of the other information will remain the same. I can then save the changed document to Mortgage - 234 Broad St, and the old document that was 123 Main St. remains unchanged if I simply close it.

That is the reason you want to use a template.
You can, instead of the old address, use a plain text content control to fill in.
You can select the entire template and apply a group content control to it.
Then the only place changes can be made is where you have the content controls for your variable information.


Each time a document is created from the template, you save it and when you do, it will keep that information, but next time the template is used, the content controls are there.

• Word Content Controls by Greg Maxey
• Create a Form Using Word Content Controls by Greg Maxey
• Templates in Microsoft Word

Instead of opening the original document you can create a new one from it.

From File Open: if the original document you require is available from those listed simply right-click and select "Open a Copy". If you need to use the Browse option to find the access the original file use the drop down menu of the Open button and select "Open as Copy"

In both instances Word creates a new document from the existing one, ensuring that the content of the original remains unchanged.

You can also save your standard 15-page mortgage document as a template using Content Controls to indicate where the required information needs to be completed.

Attached Images

Screenshot 2023-11-23 220435.png (34.3 KB, 12 views)

Thanks for your help. I am on vacation now, but will try these suggestions when I get back to my office.