Creating a Boilerplate Document

Summary: If you have several boilerplate documents you need to routinely use in Word, then you should learn how to use templates. They can provide just the functionality and flexibility you need. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, Word 2003, and Word 2007.)

In Word, a template (at its simplest) is a guide for how a document should appear. You can use templates to store boilerplate documents, such as forms or contracts. When you open a new document based on the template, all the boilerplate information is in place and ready to use. To create a boilerplate document, do the following:

Create a new document that is based on the template you want used as the basis for your boilerplate template.
Choose Save As from the File menu. Word displays the Save As dialog box.
In the Save as Type pull-down list, make sure you select Document Template (*.dot). This ensures your document is saved as a template. (In Word 2007 you should choose the type Word Template or, if your template will contain macros, Word Macro-Enabled Template.)
Enter a new name for your template, and select where it should be saved.
Click on Save.
Make your changes to the template, making sure to enter any boilerplate text desired.
Save your work before closing the template file.

Tip #1360 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

Great Idea! Word is a tool to get what you really want—printed output. This means you need to make sure that Word works as well as possible with your printer, whether it is sitting on your desk or in a room down the hall.

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Creating a Boilerplate Document