How to Save a Document as a Template in Word 2007
April 28th, 2008 | by Loren |If you have a file that you re-use often, but find that you have to undo changes or delete old content so you can start fresh, then you probably would be better off saving the file as a template.
A template can be as simple as a file with some existing text that you don’t want to redo, or a complex, multi-page document. The advantage of saving a file as a template is that every time you start a new document from the template, it will be identical to the original, and when you save it, there will be no chance of overwriting the original.
Word comes with ready-make templates, plus there are many more to download at Microsoft.com. To see the existing templates, click the Office button, then New. The left-hand list shows the template categories, the individual templates show on the right.
These directions will get you started by showing you how to save a file with some existing text as a template.
Save a File as a Template
- Type up a short text file or open the file you want to save.
- Click the Office button, point to Save As, then click Word Template.
To Start a New Document from a Template
- Click the Office button, then New.
- Click My Templates in the left-hand pane.
- Double-click your template to open it. It should look like the original file you saved as a template.
When you start a document from a template, you will be prompted to enter a file name when you save the file. All changes you make will be saved in the new file, not in the template.
To Edit an Existing Template
- Click the Office button, then Open.
- Click Trusted Templates in the Look in: pane.
- Double-click your template to open it. It should look like the original file you saved as a template.
To edit a template you need to open the actual template file, not just open a file from the template. Template file icons look different in that they have a yellow bar across the top of the icon and have a .dotx extension.
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6 Responses to “How to Save a Document as a Template in Word 2007”
By Dennis Clay on Jan 27, 2010 | Reply
I’ve developed a form that is a combination of check boxes, choice boxes and text entry boxes. After I protect the template and test it, the text entry boxes work fine until I check a check or choice box. At that point, I can no longer enter text in the text entry areas. If I turn protection off, this problem disappears (not a real solution to the problem). Has anyone had a similar experience or able to offer advice?
By Pat Moore on Jan 19, 2010 | Reply
I used to easily save a document as a template in 2003 version of word but in 2007 it goes off into cyberspace never to be found again. All the help is about complicated templates. I just need to save a simple address.
Anyone out there know what to do, please
By Scott B on Oct 27, 2009 | Reply
Susan, to protect your word docs in WORD 2007 go to the REVIEW or DEVELOPER tab and click the protect document button. You will need to click the top drop-down option, “Restrict Formatting and Editing.” Once the side bar pops up you select the kind of restrictions you want, i.e. Filling in forms only, no changes (also can add exceptions below that), etc. Hope this helps.
By susan on Oct 13, 2009 | Reply
I did not see anything in your category list for Protecting/Unprotecting a form. Our CoOp has a website where our staff can access forms that they can either print off to fill out or I set them up so they can “save as” and then fill them out on their computer. At different times I need to update these forms and in Word 2003 the padlock allowed me to do this simply. Now I am stumped as to how to do this. I have much info and have tried different things, but so far it is not working for me. Do you know of any simple steps to be able to accomplish this? Thanks so much.
I found your website (thank you very much – I love it) when I went to google to ask how to put the file name and path in a footer! Your directions were so simple and worked the first time!!
By Loren on Oct 8, 2009 | Reply
Hi John – what you might want to do is change the Normal template – saved as Normal.dotm. The normal template holds the formatting that you would want on the majority of your Word documents.
You can find the normal.dotm at:
* In Microsoft Windows Vista: Click Templates, and then double-click the Normal.dotm file to open it.
* In Microsoft Windows XP: Click Templates next to File name. If no templates are listed in the Open dialog box, click the arrow next to the Files of type box, and then click All Word Templates.
Open it, and make the changes you want to be standard in your documents. You will see normal.dotm in the title bar while you are
working on it. Use Save to keep your changes.
Hope that helps!
By John Kuhns on Oct 8, 2009 | Reply
I want to change the opening page in (Vista) Office Word.
I cannot find the proper words/phrasing in Help to answer my question.
When I double click the Word Icon on my Desktop I want Word to open with a Blank New Document with my Format, Style, margins etc. without having to go to templates.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.