Create a custom template

You should create as many custom templates as possible--representing each type of project you do.

1. Choose File → New and select a template that is as close as possible to the type of template you want to create. Click OK.
2. Before doing any customization, choose File ? Save As.
3. Select from the Save as type drop-down list: Document Template (*.dot).
   • To create an Excel template, select Template (*.xlt).
   • To create a PowerPoint template, choose Design Template (*.pot).
   Choosing to save as a template causes the Save As dialog box to move automatically to your user templates folder. This folder is likely to be in a location very different than your documents.
4. Type a filename and click Save.
5. Customize the template to your wishes. Consider the following possibilities.
   • Enter the content that you want have already entered when you start a document of this type.
   • Set the default margins (File ? Page Setup).
   • Set the default font (Format ? Font).
   • Configure headers and footers.
   • Configure the default document properties (File ? Properties).
   • Create styles. See content elsewhere regarding styles.
   • Create AutoText (use the Insert ? AutoText ? AutoText command to ensure that the AutoText you create is being saved in this specific template, rather than the Normal template).
   • Create macros (advanced).
   • Create keyboard shortcuts or toolbars specific to this template (advanced).
6. Save the template.
7. Close the template.