Out of the box, you can't use File > New > My Templates.

It doesn't work! The OK button is greyed out and I can't choose to create a new clean template Open the XML files in Word or a text editor and compare the results.

Do the same for a new, clean template created using the procedure in Figure 1.

Create a new document based on Normal.dotm and save it as a template.

It takes on the clean, default out-of-the-box definition. Body Text style in your new template will be pink.

Create a new document based on Normal.dotm, then save it as a template.

It is not using any file as the basis on which to create your template. If you then save that document as a template, the template will have acquired all the garbage that your Normal.dotm has accumulated.īut if you follow the procedure shown in Figure 1, Word creates the new template from within its binary program. If you do File > New > My Templates, choose Blank Document, and choose the Document radio button, then the same thing happens: Word bases the document on Normal.dotm. If you create a new document without stipulating a template for that new document, then Word will base the document on Normal.dotm. But surely I can start with a new document and save that as a template? And certainly not for circumstances when you will deploy this template to dozens or hundreds or thousands of users. But it's not for professional developers. Saving a document as a template is OK for quick'n'dirty work. And any corruption that the document may have accumulated. Stray bits of bullets or numbering that didn't work. If you save an existing document as a template, that template will acquire whatever baggage the document has acquired over its lifetime. How to create a new template What happens if I don't follow this procedure?

How to create a template in word 2010