margins setting overrides desired margins; normal.dot question

[cherishwit]

I'm running Word 2002, SP3. Lately when I open documents--even those created by someone else with, I assume, different page setups--the margins go to 1.25 Left and Right. When I open a blank document from either open-> from template -> blank document or by clicking on the little page icon, I get the 1.25 L & R margins. I know my normal template is somehow fouled, but I have tried to follow the directions for modifying the template and always get a message like "word can't rename a file because it is open somewhere."

I would like to know how I can get back my friendly normal.dot with my margins, tabs, and basic styles set the way I want them.

I have considered the "detect and repair" process, but I am not sure whether to check the discard my custom settings and restore defaults." Should I use this feature? Reinstall the program? Or just figure out how to fix my normal.dot?

Already grateful for your help,
Cherishwit

 

[fumei]

1. Do a search for all normal.dot files. Sometimes Word can do strange things and make copies.

2. You can rename them if you like, or just move them to a different folder Word does not know or care about.

3. Start Word again. This will give you a fresh new default normal.dot.

It sounds like you were trying to rename normal.dot from inside Word, with Word open? Yes? No?

Actually though I am interested in you clarifying:

I have tried to follow the directions for modifying the template and always get a message like "word can't rename a file because it is open somewhere."

Directions where? And did you in fact open normal.dot itself? What did you do as modifications?

Gerry

 

[cherishwit]

Thanks Gerry,

Well, I found some instructions that I printed from

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HPO11210281033.aspx

I followed the directions, and, as far as I can tell, THIS time, I was able to get my normal template adjusted the way I want it.

I guess I had been trying to modify from within Word, but your post prompted me to look that one last time (you always find what you are looking for the last place you look, right).

Thanks.

 

[tf1]

I would guess the secret is the DEFAULT button. As you note, you cannot do this from inside WOrd: that is you cannot open normal.dot in WOrd, change the settings and then save normal.dot.

You just open WOrd to a blank document, go to FILE< Page Setup, change the settings and then press DEFUALT. You now close Word and you should be prompted to Save Changes to Global Template.


Regards: tf1