What do folkes think of the following comments about a template XXX.dot?
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I was looking at the latest version of the XXX template. It sure has changed since I last examined the critter a few years ago. Here are two comments.
1. The template is modifying the Normal template.
Applications should not unnecessarily modify the Normal template. In this case, I do not see any reason to modify the Normal template as the XXX template can contain all necessary customizations.
In addition, more knowledgeable users learn to minimize the changes to the Normal template and make the Normal template read-only, as well as requiring a prompt to be notified when changes are made to the Normal template. This also helps to reduce damage from any virus.
The XXX template causes the prompt to save the Normal template to be issued very time Word is exited, which is of concern to users wanting to see the prompt only when unexpected changes are made to the Normal template.
This problem is best solved by modifying the template’s code so that the CustomizationContext property is used to assure that modifications are made only in XXX.DOT and not in the Normal template.
A less desired solution, when the code starts running, is to immediately save the Saved property of the Normal template in a variable and then restore that property value in the Document_Close event of the XXX template.
2. The template is re-arranging the user’s toolbars.
Templates should never re-arrange the user’s environment without offering a way to restore the environment.
