
To make changes to Normal.dotm, you must open the file from Word. You can customize the Normal template and change default settings for many aspects of a document, such as text formatting, paragraph formatting, document formatting, styles, text, pictures, AutoText entries, and keyboard shortcuts. On the Format menu, click Document, and then click the Layout tab.Ĭhange other default settings in the Normal template For example, the layout attributes for new blank documents are based on the Normal template. On the Format menu, click Document, and then click the Margins tab.Ĭhanging the default layout in any template means that the section breaks, headers and footers, and other layout attributes are used in every new document that is based on that template. For example, the margins for new blank documents are based on the Normal template. Make any changes that you want, and then click Default.Ĭhanging the default margins in any template means that the margin settings are used in every new document that is based on that template. On the Format menu, click Font, and then click the Advanced tab.

Open the template or a document based on the template whose default settings you want to change. For example, the character spacing for new blank documents is based on the Normal template.

Changing the default font also changes the Normal style, which affects any other style that is built on the Normal style.Ĭhanging the default character spacing in any template means that the settings for scale, spacing, position, kerning, and other typographic features are used in every new document that is based on that template.

To create a new blank Microsoft Word document: This feature works the same in all modern versions of Microsoft Word: 2010, 2013, and 2016.

Once you've downloaded a template, it is stored in the My Templates location on your computer. A template is a predesigned Word document that you can change to suit your needs. When creating a new Word document, you can choose between creating a blank document and creating a document from an existing template. How to Create a New Microsoft Word Document in Backstage view See Microsoft Word: Tips and Tricks for similar articles.
