WD: Documents Created from Desktop Don't Reflect Normal Template

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Windows 95

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

Word documents created by clicking the Desktop in Windows 95 do not reflect fonts or other settings stored in the Normal template.

However, changing the default font while in such a document changes both the default document that appears when you create a document in this manner and changes the default font of the Normal template.

NOTE: To create a Word document from the Windows 95 Desktop, right-click the Desktop, point to New, and then click Microsoft Word Document. Word copies the file Winword.doc to the Desktop and gives it a generic name.

CAUSE

A document created from the Windows Desktop is not created directly from the Normal.dot template, the default template used by Word. Instead, it is created from a document that resides in the Windows\ShellNew folder. This document is named Winword.doc, which is based on the Normal.dot template.

WORKAROUND

Method 1: Use the Automatically Update Document Styles option

1. Right-click the Windows 95 Start button.

2. Click Explore.

3. Locate the Windows\ShellNew folder.

   If you do not find the ShellNew folder under the Windows directory, do the following:

   a. On the View menu, click Options.

   b. Click the View tab. Under Hidden Files, click Show All Files, and then click OK.

4. Select Winword.doc.

5. On the File menu, click Open. Word should start with the Winword.doc open.

6. On the File menu, click Templates.

7. Click Attach. Select the Normal.dot file located in the MSOffice\Templates folder and then click Open.

8. Click to select the Automatically Update Document Styles check box, and then click OK.

9. On the File menu, click Save.

10. On the File menu, click Close.

   ARTICLE-ID: Q166174
   TITLE     : WD: Styles Aren't Automatically Updated Attaching to
               Normal.dot

Method 2: Modify the Winword.doc file

1. On the Word File menu, click Open.

2. Change the folder location to Windows\ShellNew.

   If you do not find the ShellNew folder under the Windows directory, do the following:

   a. On the Explore View menu, click Options.

   b. Click the View tab. Under Hidden Files, click Show All Files, and

         then click OK.
   

3. Select the Winword.doc file and click OK.

4. With the document open, change the formatting to match the formatting of your Normal template.

5. On the File menu, click Save.

6. On the File menu, click Close.

Method 3: Modify the Registry to point to a different document

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

1. On the Word File menu, click New.

2. Click the General tab, select Blank Document, and then click OK.

3. With the new document open, change the formatting to match the formatting of your Normal template.

4. On the File menu, click Save. Type the name you want to use and select the directory you want. Click Save.

5. On the File menu, click Close.

6. On the Start menu, click Run.

7. In the Open box, type "REGEDIT" (without the quotation marks) and then click OK.

8. Select the appropriate Registry key for your situation.

   Word 97 -------

   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.doc\Word.Document.8\ShellNew

   Word 7.0, 7.0a --------------

   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.doc\Word.Document.6\ShellNew

9. In the right pane, click FileName.

10. On the Edit menu, click Modify.

11. In the Value Data box, type the name of the document you created in step 4. Click OK.

    NOTE: If you did not save the document in the \Windows\ShellNew folder, you must type the full path to the new document in the Value Data box. For example: C:\MSOFFICE\WINWORD\WINWORD.DOC

12. On the Registry menu, click Exit.