changing .dot back to .doc

I hesitate to respond to this, but it is so much misinformation that I feel
I must.

1. This is also true of ".dot" files in Word's template directory.
This is also true of text (".txt") files.

2. How do you change the extension and _then_ save?
Or do you mean "Save As" a Template?

3. A document with a dot extension will not behave like a template. Period.
The contents of Word's Template directory are not protected by Word.

4. That is (more or less) how templates (everywhere) work.

5. Yes you can. Word does not protect it.

6. Correct.

7. Changing the extension does not create a document.
It creates a template with a ".doc" suffix.
Templates can be edited anyway (see point #1).

--
Enjoy,
Tony

"Larry F" wrote in message
...
I have used templates (dot) files quite often in Word 2003 (have not
migrated
to 2007 yet) but have found a couple of interesting things that might
prove
useful.

1. If you save a "dot" file anywhere other than Word's template directory
it generally does not behave any differently than a document saved with
the
"doc" extension. You can open it, edit it, overwrite it, rename it, etc.
2. You can create a template using any file containing doc extension
simply
by changing the extension to dot and saving it. If you do not specify a
path
it will be saved to the template directory.
3. A document with a dot extension will not behave like a template unless
they are saved in Word's template directory (i.e. it is not protected from
overwrite when it is saved anywhere else).
4. When you start a new document using a template from the templates
directory it will automatically be converted to a doc extension when you
save
it (i.e. preventing overwrite).
5. You cannot revise a template simply by saving your revised template
by
the same name. Word will not allow you to overwrite a template already in
the templates directory.
6. Any template file saved to a directory other than the template
directory when moved to the template directory (i.e. using Windows
Explorer)
will behave like any other template in the diretory and will appear on the
templates list when you start a new document.
7. Editing an existing template file is easier if you move it from the
template diretory (i.e using Windows Explorer), change it's extension to
doc,
edit it and then simply resave it with the dot extension (this also allows
you to save the template by the same name since it no longer exists in the
template directory)

Hope the above helps


"Larry F" wrote:



"Graham Mayor" wrote:

The internal structures of documents and templates are different.
Renaming
does not change that structure.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org




Bod wrote:
Thanks, but why? What's the difference?

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

Open and save it!

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


Bod wrote:
I can simply rename a .doc as a .dot from Win Explorer, but could
it
cause problems? Should I open .doc in Word and save as .dot?