Word 2010 and Template Locations

Anonymous
2011-02-24T03:35:40+00:00

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

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Charles Kenyon 171K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2012-07-13T16:01:51+00:00

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.

See also: File New Variations in the Versions of Word

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Suzanne S Barnhill 279.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2011-02-24T05:07:57+00:00

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.

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments

54 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2013-01-30T04:00:26+00:00

    Word10 has a default template and document save location which is

    C:\Users&lt;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".

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

    Not sure I follow No. 3.  I see DOcuments, and then Library but not Documents Library. And no "Includes 2 locations."

    JWM

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2013-01-28T21:09:03+00:00

    Word10 has a default template and document save location which is

    C:\Users&lt;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".

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

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2012-07-11T22:55:15+00:00

    I have a lot to learn about 2007 and 2010, but in the old days Word prompted you to save personal templates to a mapped folder location on your hard drive. If your pc needed to be reimaged, any data you had on the hard drive was lost. The beauty now is that your roaming profile allows you to access (docs and) templates from wherever you're logging into the network. Managing templates is much easier if Word isn't forcing you to save them somewhere other than where you've mapped Word to find them on your network folders. Users have definitely become more savvy and want more flexibility than previously, and Microsoft is trying to accommodate them. I personally would like less automation and more user access to some of the hidden parts/pieces. It's a pain to dig to find and load the "Developer tab" so you can create forms. I definitely don't like the "new" form fields. The old form fields were much more customizable and controlable, albeit a bit uglier. And digging to toggle Windows Explorer to "show hidden files" or file types. I think that if you access a folder via any method that you should by default be able to see a list of all files within and not just files of a certain type. I've scratched my head many times trying to figure that one out. Good naming conventions should be implemented to avoid scrolling through too many.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments