MS Office 101

Working With The Norm

Do you find yourself constantly making the same changes in MS Word over and over again? (Things like tabs, paragraph settings, etc... whatever you need to get the job done right.)

Frustrated with all the repetitive work?

Yeah, me too.

Want a better way—maybe a way that has all blank documents delivered to you with these settings ready to go?

Was that a "Yes!" I heard?

I'm sure it was. Who wouldn't want to remove all that work from their day?

Well then the answer you're looking for lies in the Normal template.

What's the Normal template you ask?

Good question.

I think that the MS Office Assistant probably has the best answer around—so let's hear from him.

"The Normal template is a general-purpose template for any type of document. When you start Word or click New, Word creates a new blank document that is based on the Normal template."

So, based on that idea, if you can change the Normal template to contain your preferences then all blank documents will contain those same preferences.

Cool!

Want to know how?

Yeah, I thought you might. Stay tuned... we're on to changing the Normal template next.

Office Tip of the Day

Changing the Normal Template

We're all here to find out how to make changes to the Normal template - so I think we should get right down to business.

Step 1: Locate and open your Normal template.

• File menu, Open choice.

• In the "Files of type" list choose document templates. (Located at the bottom of the window)



• Use the "Look in" drop down menu at the top to navigate to the MS Office folder. (If you do not see the MS Office folder on the C: drive then look inside the Programs Files folder.)
• Open the template folder.

• Open the Normal template.

  

Step 2: Make changes to the template you just opened.

• Change anything at all, even if there is no default button to save the change (you'll do that in step 3). Keep in mind these changes will affect all blank documents you open so be sure they are things that will be helpful.

• For example, tabs by default are set at 0.5-inch intervals; you may prefer something different. Go to format, tabs and make the change you desire in the upper right-hand corner.

• Another example would be the settings for paragraphs, or line spacing, or whatever it is that you find yourself constantly changing when you begin a new document. You know, the things you wish would just stay changed.

Step 3: Save the normal template by simply using File menu, Save choice. (Ctrl + S works too!)

Step 4: Close the template.

Congratulations! You're done. New documents should be completely tailored to your needs.

~ April