Saving a Word document as a template is a simple process that can save you a lot of time, especially if you often create documents with the same layout or structure. Essentially, it allows you to create a master document that you can use as a starting point for future work. Pretty neat, right?
Before you start saving Word documents as templates, it’s important to understand what templates can do for you. They help maintain consistency in formatting and content for similar documents. This can be particularly useful for businesses, educators, or anyone who needs to create multiple documents that share a common format or structure.
Start by creating the document that you want to use as your template. This includes all formatting, styles, and content that you want to be included in the template.
Creating a document to save as a template is just like creating any other document in Word. You’ll want to make sure that everything is exactly how you want it to appear in future documents that use the template. Pay close attention to the layout, text styles, and any placeholder text that you might want to be replaced in future documents.
Once your document is ready, go to the File tab and select ‘Save As’.
When you click ‘Save As’, a dialog box will open that allows you to choose where you want to save your document. For now, just focus on getting the dialog box open.
In the Save As dialog box, navigate to the location where you want to save your template. It could be on your computer, in a specific folder, or in a cloud-based storage service.
Choosing the right location for your template will make it easier to find and use in the future. If you’re using the template for work, you might want to save it in a shared folder so that your colleagues can also use it.
In the Save As dialog box, look for the ‘Save as type’ dropdown menu. This is where you’ll select the template file format.
The ‘Save as type’ dropdown menu is crucial because it lets you change the file format from a regular Word document to a template. Make sure you don’t skip this step!
From the ‘Save as type’ dropdown menu, select ‘Word Template (*.dotx)’.
Selecting ‘Word Template (*.dotx)’ tells Word that you want to save your document as a template, not a regular document. This might seem like a small difference, but it’s what allows you to use the document as a starting point for new documents in the future.
Give your template a name that is easy to recognize and remember, then click ‘Save’.
When naming your template, think about what will make it easiest to identify later. You might want to include the type of document it is, such as ‘Invoice Template’ or ‘Meeting Agenda Template’.
After you complete the action, your new template will be saved in the location you chose, ready to be used whenever you need it. The next time you want to create a document with the same structure, you can start with your template, saving you the trouble of formatting and adding standard content all over again.
.dotx is the file extension for a Word template, while .docx is the file extension for a standard Word document. Using .dotx for your templates ensures that you don’t accidentally overwrite them when creating new documents.
Yes, if you want to include macros in your template, save it as a ‘Word Macro-Enabled Template (.dotm)’ instead of a ‘Word Template (.dotx)’.
To use a template, open Word, go to the File tab, select ‘New’, and then choose ‘Personal’ to find your saved templates.
Absolutely! Just find the template file, open it, make your changes, and then save it again as a template.
Yes, but they will need a program that’s compatible with Word templates to use it properly.
There you have it, a quick and easy guide on how to save a Word document as a template. This little trick can save you heaps of time and ensure consistency across your documents. And the best part? Once you’ve saved a template, you can use it as many times as you want, tweaking it to suit your needs for each new document.
Templates are particularly useful for businesses that need to maintain a uniform look and feel for their documents, or for anyone who frequently creates similar documents. Remember to keep your templates organized and updated, and don’t be afraid to share them with your team or colleagues. The more the merrier, right?
So, whether you’re whipping up a business report, a classroom handout, or a club newsletter, templates are your best friend. And now that you know how to save a word document as a template, you’re all set to make your workflow a whole lot smoother. Happy templating!
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.