Word 2007 Template Common Location Issues 1

[debbiezzzzz]

Hi!

We have a common location on our network for word 2007 templates. We've set the options in word to always look in this folder for templates when creating a new document. That part works great.

The Problem: The normal.dotx/normal.dotm files. Users w/o write access to this folder get an error every time they close word, that they cannot write to this file. Now why word is trying to write to it, when they haven't made any settings changes is beyond me, but.... Is there a way around this other then granting write rights? Can I tell word to look on the network folder for templates, but to use it's own hard drive for the normal.dotx/normal.dotm files?

In addition, does this prevent individual users from having customized toolbars? (I have users that when they add commands to their tool bars, they disappear when they exit word and come back.)

Thanks in advance for any help on these items.

D

 

[tf1]

The only setting that you need to change in Word is in Word Options, Advanced, File Locations, Workgroup templates which should point to the Group Templates folder you set on the server. Everyone MUST have FULL permissions to that folder for it to work correctly.

You do not have to worry about anyone editing the templates: just write protect them with a password. If you only give them access to that one folder on the server, there are no security risks about them accessing anything that they shouldn't.


Regards: tf1

 

[debbiezzzzz]

Thanks for your reply, and just a couple questions.

1. Why do they need full permissions to that folder? I don't want any changes to the files (or deletes). In office 2000 they only had read rights and it seems to have worked fine.

2. Will they be able to have their own customized toolbars this way?

3. If I PW protect the templates, won't it ask them for a password everytime they close word? (Normal.dot?)

Thanks again

 

[tf1]

1. It is the way Word works: but as I say, if they are made Read Only with a password, it will stop them from saving over the workgroup templates or accidentally making changes to them.

2. Personal Custom toolbars are kept with their normal.dotx (or normal.dotm if they include their own macros) which should always be on their own computers in their own Roaming Profile. They cannot share a normal.dotx(m) on the server.

3. Normal.dotx should not be on the server. It is THEIR OWN normal.dot and MUST be located in their roaming profile. It cannot be located and shared on the server. It just won't work. By default, this is located in Users, Username, AppData, Roaming, Mirosoft, Templates.


Regards: tf1

 

[debbiezzzzz]

Thank you again This information is a big help.