Word 2010 and Template Locations

Anonymous

Word 2003 by default saved any document I designated as a template (*.dot) in a predetermined location set up in Location of Files. I have noted that Word 2010 also saves user templates to a location in Location of Files (oddly it is in a folder called "roaming." something I usually assocate with my cell phone rather than my computer). However, notwithstanding this setting Word 2010 saves my templates wherever it chooses. I noticed this after creating a template and then immediately trying to use it--and it wasn't "there." That is, it did not show up in File/New/Templates. Gone! That is, gone until I ran a search for it and found it. This time I found it in the folder I was working in when I decided to create the new template. Am I missing something here? Is the Location of Files setting subject to other unknown (at least to me) conditions? There may be fine reasons to choose to store templates in a location different from the setting but since they won't be accessible in the usual way (File/New/Templates etc.) it would probably be a very unique reason. I lost another template or two previously but I figured it was my own fault for not saving them correcty--until they showed up in the same search!

Joe McGuire

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Charles Kenyon 171K Volunteer Moderator

I agree with you that having to activate the Developer Tab is a pain as is the routine hiding of both system files and filename extensions.

As to the new form fields, I have mixed feelings. The Add-In from Greg Maxey at Add Classic FormField Controls to Ribbon certainly helps. It essentially gives you the old Forms toolbar in a Ribbon group including the lock toggle.

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Suzanne S Barnhill 279.4K MVP Volunteer Moderator

The difference is that Word no longer defaults to the user templates folder when you save a template. This is touted as a benefit, though I don't really see how it is. If you want the template to appear in the New dialog (assuming you've figured out how to even make that appear), you do have to save it in the default template location. There's some info about this at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/924460, but it probably won't tell you more than you have already discovered.

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Charles Kenyon 171K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2013-02-25T17:47:01+00:00
Word10 has a default template and document save location which is

C:\Users<username>\Documents (where <username> is, of course, your login username).

It also has two default template search locations which are

<the above document save location> and

C:\msword templates

You can easily change and add to these locations. For example, I added two other directories.

Follow these directions:

1: Open Word

2: Under 'File' top menu, click 'New', then click 'New from existing'.

3: Under the title "Documents library" there should be "Includes: 2 locations".

You can add new locations by clicking on the "2 locations".

When this sub-menu opens up, create/select and add new locations. From this sub-menu you can also change the default directory.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

Craig Tice
Craig, your information is not correct. I'm sorry. It may be the way your computer is set up, but it is not good general information.

The Documents folder, or the folder set as a default for Word documents, if different, is not a default search location for Word.

You can set a location that you want as a default template search location in Options, setting either the user templates or the workgroup templates location.

I know of no way in Word 2010 to change the default save location for save as template. In Word 2003 that was the user templates folder. In Word 2010 it is wherever Word would save a document file.

Templates in Microsoft Word
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Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2013-02-22T11:07:34+00:00

Your information is not correct.

The default location for the user templates in Windows Vista or Windows 7 and 8 is

C:\Users[User Name]\App Data\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates

In WIndows XP it is

C:\Documents and Settings[User Name]\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates
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Anonymous

2013-02-21T17:50:58+00:00
Word10 has a default template and document save location which is

C:\Users<username>\Documents (where <username> is, of course, your login username).

It also has two default template search locations which are

<the above document save location> and

C:\msword templates

You can easily change and add to these locations. For example, I added two other directories.

Follow these directions:

1: Open Word

2: Under 'File' top menu, click 'New', then click 'New from existing'.

3: Under the title "Documents library" there should be "Includes: 2 locations".

You can add new locations by clicking on the "2 locations".

When this sub-menu opens up, create/select and add new locations. From this sub-menu you can also change the default directory.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

Craig Tice
TOO bad, the default is not a default. When saving a template and having used the default location the template should now be in my personnal templates, but it is not. I have several templates that I have created before there, but (Microsoft) still hasn't established a consistent default behaviour. The only way anything is going to be consistent is when I use my SkyDrive. However SKydrive is not for my bussiness documents, just my personnal (at this time.)
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