edit normal.dot

esmo · Joined: Sep 22, 2003 Posts: 49

xp pro, sp3, word 2003. The mark up option is selected by default in normal.dot. I want it to be turned off by default, and available for manual selection for any document I choose. I tried editing my existing file, but it does not remember the change. I tried letting Word create a new normal.dot, but it also had the mark up option selected as the default, and could not be changed I am not talking about the make hidden markup visible in options\security. I want the default selection to be disabled, and to require manual intervention to re-enable when wanted. Is there any way to do this? Thanks

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/change-the-normal-template...rmal-do

esmo · Joined: Sep 22, 2003 Posts: 49

That procedure is the first thing I did, but as I mentioned in my post, the changes could not be saved.

I have found a solution. It may not be the only answer, but it worked for me. I saved the edited file to a new name using the save as option, keeping the dot extension. I then renamed the defective normal dot to old normal.dot, renamed the newly edited file to normal.dot. When I saw that this worked, I deleted the renamed old normal dot. I then followed this procedure on all my templates.

tbernstein · Joined: May 16, 2003 Posts: 1668 Location: London

Hi Esmo.
i wish i'd seen your original post.
What you did to solve the issue was a time honoured method.
You've shown considerable computer savvy by working it out for yourself.