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

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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

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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.

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  1. Charles Kenyon 171K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2014-03-31T13:02:39+00:00

    That is indeed the most helpful reply.

    Can anyone other than a programmer understand why Microsoft puts files one needs into such an arcane and difficult-to-access site? It was easier for mere mortals when templates were one of the folders within the documents folder, which would be a logical (and easy) place to access.

    Originally, they were saved in an arcane and difficult-to-access location because it was the default save location for templates and they were easily accessed using the File>New dialog.

    File New Variations in the Versions of Word

    Word 2013 has returned the default location to a folder in the Documents folder.

    Note, all of these are default locations, subject to relatively easy modification by the user. I have four versions of Word active. All have their user and workgroup templates folders in the MS System Files folder in my documents folder. No version shares a user templates folder with another.

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  2. Suzanne S Barnhill 279.4K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-03-31T14:15:14+00:00

    To add to what Charles has said, in earlier versions, if you created or saved a file as a template, Word defaulted to the Templates folder to save it. And the New dialog automatically accessed this folder, with all the files in the root folder on the General tab and those in subfolders on tabs named with the folder names. It was not necessary to know where this folder was because Word handled all this transparently to the user.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-31T15:20:31+00:00

    Thanks, Suzanne. Your explanation is helpful, but it still seems more complicated to access templates in order to modify them. Also, when I saved a file as a new template, it was saved in the documents folder, not the template folder. Probably just my lack of technical expertise.

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