Template Compatiblity (2002/2000)

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I have just finished an online post with Microsoft support and don’t like the answer they gave me. Here’s the problem, I have Office XP, WOrd 2002 loaded on my PC and I create templates to be used across our organization. Approximately 60% of our users are still on 2000 and the rest on XP/2002. When I create workgroup templates in 2002 they can be opened in 2000, but they can not be saved as documents. The Save As box is grayed out. Of course it can be saved as another template, but that’s not what we are trying to do here. Microsoft’s Help Desk version worked the same so their only solution is a work around. That is create a document and then use it as read only, making it sort of a template. But I HATE that response. I can’t have users access them from the file new/template area because that is only for templates. I tried to tell Microsoft staff that it is unrealistic to expect a company to migrate all at once and that all programs should work, right. Their only suggest other than the cumbersome work around is for me do send a MSWISH e-mail. My question of you experts, is there anything or any other way that I could make templates work correctly? Thanks, Judy

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If I place a word .doc file (an actual document, not a template) in the Templates directory, the Word doc is presented as a choice if I use the File | New menu to select a template to be used with a new document.

If this is not what you are looking for, please clarify.

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Thanks Howard, I never even tried that. I will try that, but if that is so, why do we even use templates? Using a write only document would be the same. I have been away for a couple of days and just got back. Sorry not to get a reply to you earlier. Thanks again,

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Templates and documents are different critters.

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Hi Judy:
I’m not sure what you’re ultimately trying to accomplish, but you can’t save a template as a document. You can simply create a new document from a template, of course, but there are differences. There is a recent thread on this issue starting with post 194405
Cheers,

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Phil, I beg to differ with you on this one. In version 2002 you can save a template as a document, at least I can. So, the difference must have been in prior versions and it was changed in 2002. I did what Howard suggested and went one further, save the document with a modify password on it. Think it will work fine for us, but just not utilizing the template capabilities. Thanks for your response. I was slow because I took a few days off, sorry to not be gone longer, sigh! Thanks again for your support.

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Please, don’t beg!

In any case, in Word 2002, saving a template as a doc is not the same as saving a templatet as a template.
For example, find a template that includes AutoText.
Right click on the template to open the template.
Try saving as a .doc file and you will see what I mean.

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OK, Howard, I tried what you said and mine works the the same as I previously mentioned. In my 2002, I can save both templates with autotext entries and those without as either templates or documents. At all times I am able change the file type to either template or document. That is not the case with my Word 2000 PC’s. I think you will have to come to Northern California and show me what you mean! I really am not a novice although this may sound like it! I have been supporting the Microsoft Office Suite for too MANY years and teaching it, too. I do know old dogs CAN be taught new tricks, but this is one I don’t understand, because I see no difference in my version. Are you using 2002 with service pack 2? Is there an option setting somewhere that could account for the difference in how our systems respond? Awaiting your answer! Judy

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Hi Judy:
Thanks for that information. I don’t have XP & I’ve gotten burned a couple of times by differences. I should be more careful.

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(Edited by jscher2000 on 08-Nov-02 20:11. A new link!)

I don’t think the behavior you are describing is related to having two versions of Word, it’s just the way Word has always worked.

(1) Opening a template (.dot) directly allows you to edit and save the template, and, if you wish, to Save As a new template, but never as a document.
(2) Opening a document directly allows you to edit and save the document, and, if you wish, to Save As a new document or a new template.
(3) Creating a new document from a file (either .dot or .doc) under File|New leaves the original untouched and allows you to Save As either a new document or a new template.

If you want to bend the rules so that your users can open a template directly but have the option to generate a new document on the fly, check out the AutoOpen macro in Post #130411. It’s a bit of a hassle to embed it in every template, but you might prefer this workaround.

You can limit the behavior to Word 2000 (version 9) by testing for the following in the macro:

Application.Version = “9.0” (True for 2000, False for 2002)

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Thanks for responding. See my response to Howard in the previous part of this thread. I really don’t understand why for all of you it works one way and for me another. I have proven over and over that I CAN save templates as templates or documents and documents as either templates or documents. Am using the save as command. Have Word 2002 with service pack 2 loaded. I go to another computer with 2000 on it and it works as you describe. Let me know what you think and thanks for the response. Judy

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I didn’t respond carefully enough: that’s the way it always worked before XP. I don’t use XP, so you’re undoubtedly right that the feature has changed. The alternate solution I described will allow your users to access true .dot templates from outside the File|New dialog and create .doc files from them on the fly. I’m attaching an example for your reference.

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Judy hi

In my limited experience if you wish to use a macro to create a new document from a template via a macro you must use the AutoNew macro to create the new document (.doc). If the AutoOpen macro is used this will open the template for editing, and if the template has Read Only set, only allow the new document to be saved as a template.

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I’m going to play with these to macros, but I still don’t understand what I am doing that’s different than what everyone else is getting. See my previous posts to others who have responded. Am not sure how the two macros you talk about are initiated. Thanks, Judy

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