Word – How to edit a missing template used in a Word document

editingmicrosoft wordtemplates

I have a Microsoft Word document which was created using a template. I have only the finished document, and want to edit the template it was based on (which I don't have). I cannot find a way to do so.

Almost all of the Google searches return ways for changing the template of an existing document but I don't want to do that. I just want to do some tweaks to the template that was used for an existing document.

How do I edit the template used in a word document?

Note:

  • I do not have the *.dot or *.dotx file associated with the template
  • I'm using MSOffice 2013

Best Answer

Editing a Template

A template is Word's guide for how your document and working environment should appear. Depending on your version of Word, templates can contain information on the toolbar, menus, macros, styles, default text, and any number of other environmental items.

Editing a template is much like editing a regular document; the only difference is that the file is saved with a different filename extension than regular documents. To load an existing template so that you can edit it, do the following:

  1. Display the Open dialog box. (In Word 2007 click the Office button and then click Open. In Word 2010 display the File tab of the ribbon and then click Open. In Word 2013 display the File tab of the ribbon, click Open, click Computer, and then click Browse.)
  2. At the bottom of the dialog box, just above the Open button, is a drop-down list where you can specify the type of files you want Word to list. Use the drop-down list to select either Word Templates or Word Macro-Enabled Templates, depending on which type you want to open.
  3. Using the controls in the dialog box, browse through directories and disks drives as desired until the desired template files are listed.
  4. Select the desired document template.
  5. Click the Open button.

You can now make any changes desired, and then save the template again. The changes affect any future documents you base on the template.

Source Editing a Template

Finding Where Templates Are Stored

It is unfortunate that Microsoft does not make it easier to modify templates. The first step in modifying templates is to load one, and that means you need to know where they are stored on disk. Regrettably, the average user hasn't a clue where they are stored on disk. The problem is that even Word Help cannot say exactly where the templates folder is on any particular computer.

If you want to know where your templates are stored, follow these steps:

  1. Display the Word Options dialog box. (In Word 2007 click the Office button and then click Word Options. In Word 2010 display the File tab of the ribbon and then click Options.)
  2. Click Advanced at the left side of the dialog box.

  3. Scroll to the bottom of the available options and click the File Locations button. Word displays the File Locations dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

    enter image description here

  4. In the File Types list, choose User Templates. If the path for the templates is short enough, you may be able to see it in the dialog box right now. If so, you can skip steps 5 and 6.

  5. Click the Modify button (even though you won't be modifying anything.). Word displays the Modify Location dialog box.
  6. The Look In drop-down list, at the top of the dialog box, contains the current path name used for templates.

Source Finding Where Templates Are Stored

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