Word Template 1

[HobbitK]

Hi everyone ...
Just wondering if the typical solution would be to create a template for something like this ... and if not, then what would you use?

I need to create several(probably hundreds) of documents that have the similar header and footer info. but the departments will be diferent and form #'s and revisions will be changing often. My experience with Templates is very limited.

 

[danomaniac]

HobbitK,
I would (and do) use a template. It is very easy to create templates...just create the document as you would normally, but only put in the stuff that will be common to all future incarnations of the doc, then when saving, use File > Save As... and in the drop down file type box select 'Template *.dot' and give it a file name. It should automatically save it to your template directory (that way, when you open Word, and select File > New, you are shown a list of templates). If not, you can browse to your template directory, or set one as the default which is a good idea for network users.

An important note about templates...Many people get confused with templates, If you open a template, it opens a copy of the template named whatever the template is named plus a number at the end, i.e, 'template1.doc'. It doesn't open the actual template. So, with that in mind, the first time you create a new document from a template, you should use 'File > Save As...' and save 'template1.doc' as something else, i.e, frm2358RB.doc

Also, a note about security.

If you're on a network, and you have a Quality issue with maintaining current revisions, DCN's, etc, might I suggest a method I use to ensure the electronic documents are not accidentally saved over and/or changed. I have one specific location on the server for company forms, policies, task plans, whatever, where all company documents are stored. Only Myself and one person in QA have write access to that location. If a revision is made by whomever, it is sent to QA for review and then posted to the server for all to view.