Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Editing a Template.

Editing a Template

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated June 26, 2019)

A template is Word's guide for how your document and working environment should appear. Templates contain information on the toolbar, menus, macros, styles, default text, and any number of other environmental items. Editing a template is much like editing a regular document; the only difference is that the file is saved with a DOT filename extension (instead of DOC).

To load an existing template so you can edit it, do the following:

Choose Open from the File menu, or click on the Open tool on the toolbar. You will see the Open dialog box.
In the Files of Type pull-down list, select Document Template (*.dot). The filename display will be changed to show only template files.
Select the template file you want to edit.
Click on OK.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (467) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Editing a Template.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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What is one minus 1?

2018-11-29 17:30:43

Audrey Parker

I have created a template in Word 2016. When I try to use "Developer", "Properties", and try to format the style of the font in the fill-in box, the words are always italicized. I have gone in and made sure I tell the program not to use italics, but every time the words are italicized. Any idea what I'm doing wrong? Thanks.

2018-07-09 08:42:31

Kerry Gwen

Well, I have downloaded one template from online resource; (http://www.certificatetemplatess.org/) and now wanna edit it. Please guide me in this regard.

Thanks

2017-04-13 08:04:04

Savannah Witham

You didn't include any information on what steps to take to actually change something in the template. For instance, I'm using a template I really like, but there's a table on it that I need to be moved over a little bit. Word won't let me click and drag it, so how can I go about doing so?

2017-02-27 21:24:51

Cheryl

Use this link to edit your existing template.
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Edit-templates-b2cb7adb-aec2-429f-81fd-3d5bd33cf264?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US&fromAR=1

2017-02-15 16:03:38

Marsha Sites

Tim statement is what I am going through.
My template that I am trying to edit, and I use the Replace all method, and when i try to save changes, it only prompts me to SAVE AS, I give it a new name SAVE AS and it still does not change the error.
How do I edit my Template please.

2017-01-05 17:12:13

Tim

This doesn't work at all. It just applies the template to a new document - calls it Document 1. The template is not being edited.

2016-10-24 22:19:37

Alice

I want to edit a template in my Word 2010, but for the template there is no save option in the template, just edit online.

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