Kitz Forum
Computer Software => General software => Topic started by: Peter on January 09, 2010, 01:49:41 PM
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I recently typed a letter to friends and saved it in 'My Letters' folder, now whenever I open Word to to type a new document the letter opens up!! I thne have to highlight it and delete it before I can produce a new doc, can anyone tell me how to permenantly remove this so Word opens a new blank document please??
Peter
PS Forgot to add I have since deleted the letter from the folder.
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Its likely to be that the template Normal.dot has been altered, this template is used on all future docs.
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=151
If you`re using Word 2007 then its called Normal.dotm
You should be able to save a new one or might be able to just delete the old...Not too sure, been a while since I had problems.
Edited to fix link....Thanks to Exo for pointing it out.
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stevie's link appears to be broken, try this.
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=151
Unless you have customised templates, it is normally sufficient just to delete your existing normal.dot file and Word will create a new one.
If you have customised templates, then just rename your existing normal.dot file and allow Word to create a new one.
If you are being prompted to save your normal.dot file by Word, then this may be of interest.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291352
http://www.officearticles.com/word/about_normal_dot_in_microsoft_word.htm
Don't forget to allow Windows to show hidden files / folder.
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I noticed the first link from Stvie didn't work too. The others did but all that info is way over my head, :'( but thinks for the help chaps.
Peter
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First of all select your system to "Show Hidden files etc"
1. Open Word.
2. Close the open ducument (not word itself)
3. Select Open, then you will have to navigate to the file called "Normal.dot" which in my case is located here:-
C:\Documents and Settings\oldfogy\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates
When you select and open this file if it is not blank then simply remove any text from within it, then press "SAVE"
Now close Word.
Re-open word as you normally would and you should now just have a blank sheet in front.
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Hi Oldun,
I have tried this several times and I'm OK up the 'Microsoft' stage but can cannot see anything relating to Templates, have I missed something here?
Thanks for your 'step by step guide, it's just what I need.
Peter
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3. Select Open, then you will have to navigate to the file called "Normal.dot" which in my case is located here:-
C:\Documents and Settings\oldfogy\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates
At stage 3, you also have to select to show "Files of Type" then from the drop-down list select "Document Templates (*.dot)"
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I'm afriad I'm getting nowhere with this Olfogy, :no: (Sorry for giving you wrong name.)
I just cannot find the (*.dot) so I'll wait fro one of my sons to see if they can do better. :(
Thanks for your patience.
Peter
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Did you activate the "Show hidden files" ?
Did you use the drop-down menu at stage 3 to select the option of "Document Templates (*.dot)" ?
Have you tried manually going to the folder from the link below and selecting the normal.dot file from there ?
C:\Documents and Settings\oldfogy\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates
Failing all of the above, try closing any word file that is open then select the option to create a new template.
Save it with the name normal.dot in the folder indicated above.
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'Show Hidden files is ticked. Yes
"Document Templates (*.dot)" Yes
Have you tried manually going to the folder from the link below and selecting the normal.dot file from there ?
Yes but no normal .dot file found there.
Peter
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Yes but no normal .dot file found there.
There are 2 reasons you can't see it.
1. Word may not be open when looking.
2. The "Hidden" file is also being "Hidden"
Unfortunately both of these problems occur fairly often.
The way around the problem is to create your own "normal.dot" template file.
1. Close any existing word files.
2. Select "New" then select the option to "Create a template" (Unfortunately different versions of Word have a slightly different layout, but the principle is the same)
3. Once you have made any changes to the open file, such as page width, font, etc go to "Save" (or even Save As) and make sure you have selected the option to save it as a *.dot file (Template) and save it to the location previously given.
Ok,
The bad news is that word may tell you the file is already there or being used etc, but don't worry, just save the file to somewhere you can get to it at a later date (maybe the desktop).
Now.
Close Word then open the folder "C:\Documents and Settings\oldfogy\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates"
then copy or move the newly created "normal.dot" file into it.
All I can add is what you are experiencing is nothing new, and trying to create or alter the file is not always as straightforward as it seems, although, believe it or not, you can look in the folder a second-time and the normal.dot file will be visible.
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Ensure you have set the system to show hidden files / folders.
Open Windows search (Windows key + F key).
In the search window now displayed, click on 'All Files and folders'
In the top box now displayed for the file name, type in
normal.dot
Now click on the Search box.
If the Normal.dot file is found, rename or delete it.
exo
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:clap:Eureka!!! That worked!! :) Very many thanks to all who responded, i don't know what I'd do without you all, well done.
Peter :drink: :drink: :drink:
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Glad you got it sorted. Thanks for the update.
exo
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Yes, glad to hear it's now sorted.
But any idea what was going wrong, or what did you do (or not) that was causing the problem?
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Sorry Oldfogy but I haven't a clue what happened, I wish I knew, it may help other users, I wasn't aware that these problems occur so often.
thanks again all.
Peter
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To be honest that's probably what I thought your reply would be because I have come across the problem several times, but then for no specific reason it just seems to do what you want it to do.
"It seems to be something with looking in the template folder whilst Word is open, but then again that could be a coincidence also.
Just as a matter of interest, because I mainly use Word for typing letters, I have my normal.dot file set up with my letter-head and signature.
Because it's not very often that it's not required, then it's no big problem on those odd occasions just to delete the text and replace it as necessary.
Good luck.
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I love a happy ending. :thumbs:
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Setting up a tem[late with my letter head is something I have been meaning to do also, but never get aroun d to it. :no: Maybe now is the time to it.
Peter
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Just select "Open" then use the drop-down box to select the *.dot setting, then open the "normal.dot" file.
Once you have made any changes, select "Save" then close.
Or you could also just create a "New Template" for your letterhead.
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First of all select your system to "Show Hidden files etc"
1. Open Word.
2. Close the open ducument (not word itself)
3. Select Open, then you will have to navigate to the file called "Normal.dot" which in my case is located here:-
C:\Documents and Settings\oldfogy\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates
When you select and open this file if it is not blank then simply remove any text from within it, then press "SAVE"
Now close Word.
Re-open word as you normally would and you should now just have a blank sheet in front