What Is The Folder Called Where Custom Template Files Are Stored In Microsoft Word

Whether yous're starting from a born template or updating one of your own, Word'due south built-in tools aid you update templates to suit your needs. To update your template, open the file, make the changes you desire, and and then relieve the template.

In Microsoft Word, you tin create a template by saving a document as a .dotx file, .dot file, or a .dotm fie (a .dotm file type allows you lot to enable macros in the file).

Click File > Open.
Double-click This PC. (In Word 2013, double-click Figurer).
Browse to the Custom Part Templates folder that's nether My Documents.
Click your template, and click Open.
Make the changes you lot want, and so save and shut the template.

Add together content controls to a template

Make your templates flexible by adding and configuring content controls, such every bit rich text controls, pictures, drop-down lists, or date pickers.

For example, you might create a template that includes a drop-downward list. If you permit editing to the drib-downwardly list, other people can change the list options to meet their needs.

Annotation:If content controls are non bachelor, you may accept opened a certificate or a template that was created in an earlier version of Discussion. To use content controls, you must catechumen the document to the Give-and-take 2013 file format by clicking File > Info > Catechumen, then clicking OK. After you convert the document or template, save it.

Before you tin add content controls, you lot need to show the Developer tab.

Click File > Options > Customize Ribbon.
Under Customize the Ribbon, select Primary Tabs.
In the listing, select the Developer check box, and then click OK.

Turning on the Developer tab in the Word ribbon

Add content controls

On the Programmer tab, in the Controls grouping, click Design Style, and so insert the controls that you lot desire.

developer mode design button

Insert a text control where users can enter text

In a rich text content command, users can format text as bold or italic, and they can blazon multiple paragraphs. If you lot want to limit what users add, insert the patently text content command.

In the document, click where you desire to insert the control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Rich Text Content Command or the Evidently Text Content Control .

Insert a picture control

Click where you want to insert the control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Picture Control .

Insert a philharmonic box or a drop-downwards list

In a combo box, users can select from a list of choices that you provide or they tin can type in their own information. In a drop-downwardly list, users can merely select from the listing of choices.

On the Developer tab, in the Controls grouping, click the Combo Box Content Control or Drop-Downwardly List Content Control .
Select the content control, and then on the Programmer tab, in the Controls group, click Properties.
To create a list of choices, click Add nether Combo Box Backdrop or Drop-Downward List Properties.
Blazon a choice in the Display Proper noun box, such as Yeah, No, or Maybe. Repeat this step until all of the choices are in the drop-down list.
Make full in any other properties that y'all desire.

Note:If you select the Contents cannot be edited check box, users won't be able to click a pick..

Insert a engagement picker

Click where you lot want to insert the engagement picker command.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click the Date Picker Content Control .

Insert a bank check box

Click where you lot want to insert the cheque box control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click the Cheque Box Content Command .

Insert a edifice block gallery control

You can use building block controls when you lot want people to choose a specific block of text.

For example, building cake controls are helpful if you're setting up a contract template, and you need to add different boilerplate text depending on the contract's specific requirements. You lot can create rich text content controls for each version of the average text, and then you can use a building block gallery control equally the container for the rich text content controls.

You can besides use a edifice block control in a form.

Click where you want to insert the control.
On the Programmer tab, in the Controls group, click Edifice Block Gallery Content Control .
Click the content command to select information technology.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Properties.
Click the Gallery and the Category for the building blocks that you want to brand available in the edifice cake control.

Prepare or modify the properties for content controls

Select the content command, and click Properties in the Controls group.
In the Content Control Backdrop dialog box, cull whether the content control can be deleted or edited when someone uses your template.
To keep several content controls or even a few paragraphs of text together, select the controls or the text, and then click Group in the Controls group.

For example, perhaps yous have a 3-paragraph disclaimer. If you use the Group control to group the three paragraphs, the three-paragraph disclaimer cannot be edited and can exist deleted just as a group.

Add together instructional text to a template

Instructional text tin heighten the usability of the template that you create. Yous tin can change the default instructional text in content controls.

To customize the default instructional text for your template users, do the post-obit:

On the Programmer tab, in the Controls group, click Blueprint Style.
Click the content command where you want to revise the placeholder instructional text.
Edit the placeholder text and format it whatever way y'all want.
On the Programmer tab, in the Controls group, click Blueprint Manner to turn off the design characteristic and save the instructional text.

Add protection to a template

You can add protection to individual content controls in a template to help forbid someone from deleting or editing a particular content command or group of controls, or y'all can assist protect all of the template content with a password.

Add together protection to parts of a template

Open the template that you want to add together protection to.
Select the content controls to which y'all desire to restrict changes.

Tip:Select multiple controls by property down the CTRL cardinal while y'all click the controls.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls grouping, click Grouping, and and then click Group once again.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Backdrop.
In the Content Control Properties dialog box, under Locking, practice any of the following:
- Select the Content control cannot be deleted check box, which allows the content of the control to be edited but the command itself cannot be deleted from the template or a document that is based on the template.
- Select the Contents cannot exist edited check box, which allows yous to delete the control simply does not allow you to edit the content in the control.

Use this setting when you lot want to protect text if it is included. For instance, if you frequently include a disclaimer, you can help ensure that the text stays the same, and yous can delete the disclaimer for documents that don't crave it.

Assign a password to a template

To assign a password to the document then that only reviewers who know the password can remove the protection, do the following:

Open up the template that you want to assign a password to.
On the Review tab, in the Protect group, click Restrict Editing.
Under Beginning enforcement, click Yes, Start Enforcing Protection.
Type a countersign in the Enter new countersign (optional) box, and and then confirm the password.

Important:If you cull not to utilize a password, anyone can change your editing restrictions.

Use strong passwords that combine capital and lowercase messages, numbers, and symbols. Weak passwords don't mix these elements. Strong countersign: Y6dh!et5. Weak countersign: House27. Passwords should exist at least eight characters long. In general, longer a password is, the more secure it is.

It is critical that you lot remember your password. If you forget your password, Microsoft cannot retrieve information technology. Store the passwords that yous write downwardly in a secure place away from the data that they assist protect.

A template is a document type that creates a copy of itself when yous open up it.

For example, a business programme is a mutual certificate that is written in Discussion. Instead of creating the structure of the business plan from scratch, y'all tin utilise a template with predefined page layout, fonts, margins, and styles. All you lot have to do is open a template and fill in the text and the data that is specific to your document. When you salve the document as a .docx or .docm file, you lot save your certificate separately from the template on which information technology is based.

In a template, you tin can provide recommended sections or required text for others to use, too equally content controls such as a predefined drop-down list or a special logo. You can add protection to a section of a template, or you tin can utilize a countersign to the template to help protect the contents of the template from changes.

You lot tin observe Discussion templates for nearly kinds of documents on Office.com. If you take an Internet connection, click the File tab, click New, and then click the template category that you desire. Yous can also you can create your own templates.

You can start with a blank document and save information technology every bit a template, or you tin create a template that is based on an existing document or template.

Start with a blank template

Click the File tab, and so click New.
Click Blank document, and then click Create.
Make the changes that you want to the margin settings, page size and orientation, styles, and other formats.

You tin can also add together content controls such as a date picker, instructional text, and graphics that yous want to appear in all new documents that yous base of operations on the template.
Click the File tab, and then click Relieve As.
Requite the new template a file proper noun, select Discussion Template in the Relieve equally blazon list, and and so click Relieve.

Note:You can also save the template equally a Word Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm file) or a Word 97-2003 Template (.dot file).
Close the template.

Click the File tab, and then click New.
Under Available templates, click New from existing.
Click a template or a document that is similar to the one that yous want to create, and and then click Create New.
Make the changes yous want to the margin settings, folio size and orientation, styles, and other formats.

You lot tin too add content controls such as a appointment picker, instructional text, and graphics you lot want to appear in all new documents that you lot base of operations on the template.
Click the File tab, and then click Save Equally.
Give the new template a file proper name, select Word Template in the Save as type list, so click Relieve.

Note:You can too save the template as a Word Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm file) or a Word 97-2003 Template (.dot file).
Close the template.

Building blocks are reusable pieces of content or other document parts that are stored in galleries to be accessed and reused at any time. Yous can besides save building blocks and distribute them with templates.

For example, you lot may create a report template that provides your template users with two comprehend letter types to choose from when they create their ain report based on your template.

Save and shut the template that yous accept designed just the way y'all want it and to which yous want to add building blocks for template users to choose from.
Open the template.

Continue open the template to which you want to add together building cake options for template users.
Create the building blocks that you lot desire to provide to your template users.

When you lot fill out the data in the Create New Building Cake dialog box, in the Salvage in box make certain to click the template proper name.
Distribute the template.

When you lot transport or make the template bachelor to others, the building blocks y'all saved with the template will exist available in the galleries you specified.

You lot can offer flexibility to anyone who may use your template by adding and configuring content controls, such every bit rich text controls, pictures, drop-down lists, or appointment pickers.

For example, you lot might provide a colleague with a template that includes a drop-downwardly list, only your colleague wants to use a different gear up of options in the drib-down list in the certificate that he's distributing based on your template. Because you allowed editing to the drop-downwardly list when you added the content control to the template, your colleague can rapidly and easily change the template to see his needs.

Note:If content controls are not available, you may take opened a document or a template that was created in an before version of Word. To employ content controls, you must convert the document to the Give-and-take 2010 file format by clicking the File tab, clicking Info, clicking Convert, and then clicking OK. After you lot catechumen the document or template, save information technology.

To add content controls, yous need to prove the Developer tab.

Show the Developer tab

Click the File tab.
Click Options.
Click Customize Ribbon.
Under Customize the Ribbon , click Main Tabs.
In the list, select the Developer check box, and then click OK.

Add content controls

On the Programmer tab, in the Controls group, click Design Mode, and so insert the controls that you want.

Office 2010 ribbon

Insert a text command where users can enter text

In a rich text content command, users tin format text as bold or italic, and they can type multiple paragraphs. If y'all desire to limit what users add together, insert the plain text content control.

Click where you desire to insert the control.
On the Programmer tab, in the Controls grouping, click Rich Text Content Control or the Apparently Text Content Control .

Insert a picture control

Click where yous desire to insert the control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Motion-picture show Control.

Insert a philharmonic box or a drop-down listing

In a combo box, users can select from a list of choices that y'all provide or they can type in their own information. In a drop-down list, users tin simply select from the list of choices.

On the Developer tab, in the Controls grouping, click the Combo Box Content Control or Drop-Downwards List Content Control .
Select the content control, and then on the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Properties.
To create a list of choices, click Add under Philharmonic Box Properties or Drop-Downwards List Properties.
Type a choice in the Display Name box, such as Yes, No, or Maybe.

Repeat this step until all of the choices are in the drop-downwards list.
Make full in any other properties that you lot want.

Note:If you select the Contents cannot be edited check box, users won't exist able to click a option.

Insert a engagement picker

Click where you lot want to insert the date picker control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click the Engagement Picker Content Control.

Insert a check box

Click where y'all desire to insert the cheque box control.
On the Programmer tab, in the Controls grouping, click the Check Box Content Control.

Insert a building block gallery control

You lot can apply building block controls when you want people to choose a specific cake of text.

For example, building block controls are helpful if you lot're setting up a contract template, and you lot need to add different boilerplate text depending on the contract'due south specific requirements. Yous can create rich text content controls for each version of the average text, and and then you tin employ a edifice block gallery control equally the container for the rich text content controls.

You tin also utilise a edifice cake control in a form.

Click where y'all want to insert the control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Building Block Gallery Content Command.
Click the content control to select information technology.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Properties.
Click the Gallery and the Category for the edifice blocks that you want to brand bachelor in the building cake control.

Set up or change the backdrop for content controls

Select the content control, and click Properties in the Controls group.
In the Content Control Properties dialog box, choose whether the content control tin can be deleted or edited when someone uses your template.
To keep several content controls or even a few paragraphs of text together, select the controls or the text, and and then click Grouping in Controls group.

For example, possibly you lot have a three-paragraph disclaimer. If you use the Group command to group the three paragraphs, the three-paragraph disclaimer cannot be edited and can be deleted but as a group.

Add instructional text to a template

Instructional text can enhance the usability of the template that you create. You can change the default instructional text in content controls.

To customize the default instructional text for your template users, do the post-obit:

On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Blueprint Mode.
Click the content control where you want to revise the placeholder instructional text.
Edit the placeholder text and format it any mode yous want.
On the Programmer tab, in the Controls group, click Design Mode to turn off the pattern characteristic and salve the instructional text.

You can add together protection to individual content controls in a template to help prevent someone from deleting or editing a particular content command or group of controls, or y'all can help protect all of the template content with a password.

Add together protection to parts of a template

Open the template that you lot want to add together protection to.
Select the content controls to which you lot want to restrict changes.

To select multiple controls hold down the CTRL cardinal while yous click the controls.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Grouping, and then click Group again.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Properties.
In the Content Control Backdrop dialog box, under Locking, practise whatever of the following:
- Select the Content control cannot be deleted check box, which allows the content of the command to be edited but the control itself cannot exist deleted from the template or a document that is based on the template.
- Select the Contents cannot be edited bank check box, which allows you lot to delete the command but does not allow you lot to edit the content in the command.
  
  Use this setting when you want to protect text if it is included. For example, if you oft include a disclaimer, you can help ensure that the text stays the same, and yous tin can delete the disclaimer for documents that don't crave it.

Assign a password to a template

To assign a password to the certificate then that only reviewers who know the countersign can remove the protection, do the following:

Open the template that you want to assign a countersign to.
On the Review tab, in the Protect group, click Restrict Editing.
Under Beginning enforcement, click Yes, Offset Enforcing Protection.
Blazon a password in the Enter new password (optional) box, and then confirm the password.

Of import:If you lot choose not to utilize a countersign, anyone can change your editing restrictions.

Passwords should be viii or more characters in length.

It is critical that you lot remember your password. If you forget your password, Microsoft cannot retrieve it. Shop the passwords that you write down in a secure place away from the information that they help protect.

A template is a document type that creates a copy of itself when you open it.

For example, a concern plan is a mutual certificate that is written in Word. Instead of creating the structure of the business program from scratch, you lot can use a template with predefined page layout, fonts, margins, and styles. All you accept to do is open a template and fill up in the text and the information that is specific to your document. When yous salve the document equally a .docx or .docm file, yous save your document separately from the template on which it is based.

In a template, you can provide recommended sections or required text for others to apply, as well as content controls such every bit a predefined drop-down list or a special logo. Yous tin can add protection to a section of a template, or you can apply a password to the template to help protect the contents of the template from changes.

You can find Word templates for most kinds of documents on Office.com. If you have an Cyberspace connection, click the File tab, click New, and so click the template category that you want. Yous can also you tin can create your own templates.

Important: Office 2007 is no longer supported. Upgrade to Microsoft 365 to work anywhere from any device and proceed to receive support.

Upgrade at present

Yous tin showtime with a bare certificate and save information technology as a template, or y'all can create a template that is based on an existing document or template.

Start with a blank template

Click the Microsoft Function Button , and then click New.
Click Blank document, and then click Create.
Make the changes that you lot want to the margin settings, page size and orientation, styles, and other formats.

Y'all can also add instructional text, content controls such equally a date picker, and graphics that you desire to announced in all new documents that you base on the template.
Click the Microsoft Function Button , and then click Salvage As.
Give the new template a file name, select Word Template in the Save as type list, and then click Save.

Note:You tin can likewise save the template every bit a Give-and-take Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm file) or a Word 97-2003 Template (.dot file).
Close the template.

Click the Microsoft Role Button , and then click Open.
Open the document that you desire.
Make the changes that yous want to appear in all new documents that you base on the template.
Click the Microsoft Office Push button , and then click Save As.
Requite the new template a file proper noun, select Discussion Template in the Relieve as type list, and then click Save.

Note:You lot tin also relieve the template as a Word Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm file) or a Word 97-2003 Template (.dot file).
Shut the template.

Click the Microsoft Part Button , and so click New.
Under Templates, click New from existing.
Click a template that is similar to the one that you want to create, so click Create New.
Make the changes y'all want to the margin settings, page size and orientation, styles, and other formats.

You lot tin besides add instructional text, content controls such as a appointment picker, and graphics you want to appear in all new documents that you base on the template.
Click the Microsoft Office Button , and then click Save Equally.
Requite the new template a file name, click Give-and-take Template in the Salve as type box, and then click Save.

Annotation:You tin also relieve the template as a Word Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm file) or a Word 97-2003 Template (.dot file).
Close the template.

You can offer flexibility to anyone who may use your template past adding and configuring content controls, such equally rich text controls, pictures, drop-down lists, or appointment pickers.

For case, you might provide a colleague with a template that includes a drop-down list, simply your colleague wants to use a different set of options in the drop-down list in the document that he's distributing based on your template. Because you lot immune editing to the drop-down list when you added the content control to the template, your colleague can chop-chop and easily alter the template to run across his needs.

Add content controls

Note:You can as well add together content controls to documents.

Click the Microsoft Part Button , and so click Word Options.
Click Popular.
Select the Show Developer tab in the Ribbon bank check box, and then click OK.

Notation:The Ribbon is a component of the Microsoft Function Fluent user interface.
Open the template to which you lot want to add content controls, and then click where you want to insert a control.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls grouping, click the content command that you want to add to your certificate or template.

For example, yous can click Rich Text to insert a rich text control that volition appear in whatever document that is created by using the template.

Note:If content controls are not bachelor, you lot may have opened a document that was created in an earlier version of Word. To use content controls, you lot must convert the certificate to the Word 2007 file format past clicking the Microsoft Office Button , clicking Catechumen, and so clicking OK. Later you lot convert the certificate, save information technology.
Select the content control, and click Properties in the Controls group.
In the Content Control Properties dialog box, choose whether the content control can be deleted or edited when someone uses your template.
To go along several content controls or fifty-fifty a few paragraphs of text together, select the controls or the text, and then click Group in Controls group.

For example, perhaps you lot have a three-paragraph disclaimer. If you apply the Group command to group the three paragraphs, the three-paragraph disclaimer cannot exist edited and tin exist deleted only as a group.

Add instructional text to a template

Sometimes it is useful to include placeholder instructions for how to fill out a detail content command that y'all have added to a template. The instructions are replaced past content when someone uses the template.

On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Design Fashion.
If you haven't already added a content control to your document, click where yous want the control to appear, and then click a control.

Note:If content controls are not bachelor, you may have opened a document created in an earlier version of Word. To use content controls, you must convert the document to the Discussion 2007 file format past clicking the Microsoft Office Button , clicking Convert, and then clicking OK. After you catechumen the certificate, save it.
On the Programmer tab, in the Controls grouping, click Blueprint Mode.
Click the content control to which yous want to add placeholder text.
Edit the placeholder text and format it any manner you desire.

If you lot add together a text box content control and you want the placeholder text to disappear when someone types in their ain text, in the Controls group, click Properties, then select the Remove content command when contents are edited check box.

Save and distribute building blocks with a template

Building blocks are reusable pieces of content or other document parts that are stored in galleries to be accessed and reused at any fourth dimension. You can also relieve building blocks and distribute them with templates. For case, you may create a study template that provides your template users with ii cover letter of the alphabet types to choose from when they create their ain study based on your template.

Relieve and close the template that yous have designed just the way you want it and to which you want to add building blocks for template users to choose from.
Open up the template.

Keep open up the template to which you want to add together building block options for template users.
Create the building blocks that you want to provide to your template users.

When y'all fill up out the information in the Create New Building Block dialog box, in the Save in box make sure to click the template name.
Distribute the template.

When y'all send or make the template available to others, the building blocks you lot saved with the template will be available in the galleries you specified.

You can add protection to private content controls in a template to assist forbid someone from deleting or editing a detail content command or grouping of controls, or y'all can aid protect all of the template content with a password.

Add protection to parts of a template

Open up the template that yous want to add protection to.
Select the content controls or the group of controls to which you desire to restrict changes.
On the Developer tab, in the Controls group, click Properties.
In the Content Control Properties dialog box, under Locking, do any of the following:
- Select the Content control cannot be deleted check box, which allows the content of the command to exist edited only the control itself cannot be deleted from the template or a document that is based on the template.
- Select the Contents cannot be edited check box, which allows you to delete the control only does not let you lot to edit the content in the control.
  
  Employ this setting when y'all desire to protect text if it is included. For instance, if you often include a disclaimer, yous can help ensure that the text stays the same, and you can delete the disclaimer for documents that don't require information technology.

Add protection to all of the contents of a template

Open the template that you lot want to assistance protect from changes.
On the Developer tab, in the Protect grouping, click Protect Document, and so click Restrict Formatting and Editing.
In the Protect Certificate task pane, under Editing restrictions, select the Allow only this type of editing in the document check box.
In the listing of editing restrictions, click the restrictions that you want.
To choose additional restriction options, such as who tin can read or change the document, click Restrict permission.

Restriction options include setting an expiration engagement for the document and allowing users to copy content.
Under First enforcement, click Yeah, Start Enforcing Protection.
To assign a countersign to the document so that simply reviewers who know the password tin remove the protection, type a password in the Enter new password (optional) box, and then confirm the password.

Important:If you choose not to use a password, anyone can change your editing restrictions.

For case, a concern program is a common document written in Discussion. Instead of creating the structure of the business plan from scratch, yous can utilize a template with predefined folio layout, fonts, margins, and styles. All you have to do is open up a template and make full in the text and the information that is specific to your certificate. When you save the document every bit a .docx or .docm file, you save your document separately from the template on which it is based.

Templates are exactly like documents in that you tin can provide recommended sections or required text for others to use, as well equally content controls such as a predefined drop-downward listing or a special logo. You can add protection to a section of a template, or you can apply a password to the template to help protect the contents of the template from changes.

Yous can find Word templates for virtually kinds of documents on Microsoft Part Online. If y'all take an Internet connectedness, click the Microsoft Office Button Office button image , click New, and and so click the template category that you lot want. Alternatively, you tin can create your ain templates.