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You can save time and effort by creating new documents using templates that are designed to format a specific type of document. If you create many similar documents, templates save time by formatting the page to predefined settings, allowing you to start writing immediately. For information on how to use templates, refer to Working with Templates.
As you create and customize templates, it is important to consider the location you will use to save those templates. To prevent accidental changes, do not save templates in the same location you save your document files. Save templates in either the Microsoft Word templates folder, or in a folder that you designate specifically for templates. Be sure to give the folder an easily identifiable name like "Working Templates."
You can store templates as User templates or Workgroup templates.
User templates
This is your personal collection of templates, which is stored on your hard drive.
Workgroup templates
This collection of templates is available to a group of people (e.g., members of a department). It is stored on a drive available to the group.
You should designate a storage location for new or modified templates in Word.
From the Word menu, select Preferences...
The Preferences dialog box appears.

From the list on the left, select File Locations
Under File types, select User templates
Click MODIFY...
The Choose a Folder dialog box appears.
From the Where pull-down list, select the appropriate drive
To confirm the drive and directory selection, click CHOOSE
In the Preferences dialog box, click OK
To share one of your templates, save the template to the Workgroup templates area or copy the template onto a diskette. The people who need to use the template should store it in the Workgroup templates location by copying it to their template directory using Windows Explorer.
You can use Word to set the location of Workgroup templates (e.g., on a network drive). These templates will then be available through the General tab of the New dialog box.
From the Word menu, select Preferences...
The Preferences dialog box appears.
From the list on the left, select File Locations
Under File types, select Workgroup templates
Click MODIFY...
The Choose a Folder dialog box appears.
From the Where pull-down list, select the appropriate drive
To confirm the drive and directory selection, click CHOOSE
In the Preferences dialog box, click OK
The Macintosh Find feature can search for template files. This can be useful if, for example, you forgot where you put templates or are looking for template files on a network drive.
Click on the desktop to go to the Finder
From the File menu, select Find...
The Find dialog box appears.
Under Search for items whose, from the first pull-down list, select Extension
Under Search for items whose, in the Extension is text box, type dot
OPTIONAL: Limit your search by completing additional criteria
Click SEARCH
The Search Results dialog box appears.
Double-click the appropriate template to open it