This article shows you how to use an existing Microsoft Word template or how to create one from scratch. You can perform these operations on both Windows and Word computers. Templates are nothing more than actual documents that have been created and formatted to fulfill a specific purpose, such as the quick creation of invoices, calendars, resumes or advertising brochures.
Steps
Method 1 of 6: Select an Existing Model (Windows)
Step 1. Open the Microsoft Word document to edit
Double-click the program icon with the white "W" on a dark blue background.
Step 2. Search for the model you want to use
Scroll through the main Microsoft Word page that appeared as soon as you started the program, looking for the template to use. Alternatively, type a keyword into the search bar at the top of the window to get a list of templates that match your search criteria.
- For example, if you need to search for a budget management model, you will need to use the keyword "budget" to search.
- In order to carry out this type of search, the computer must be connected to the internet.
Step 3. Select a model
Click the preview icon of the document template you want to use. It will be displayed in a dedicated window where you can examine it more closely.
Step 4. Press the Create button
It is located in the right part of the preview window of the chosen template. The selected template will be used by Word to automatically create a new document.
Step 5. Edit the created document according to the chosen template
Most Word templates are made up of simple text that you can replace or modify according to your needs, simply by deleting the existing content and inserting the desired text.
In most cases, you can also change the default formatting of the document (font, text color, and size) without changing that of the template itself
Step 6. Save the document
Access the menu File located at the top left of the Word window, choose the option Save with name, double-click the icon of the folder where you want to store the file, name the document and press the button Save.
At this point, you will be able to use and modify the document in question whenever you need it, simply by accessing the folder in which you have stored it and double clicking on the corresponding icon
Method 2 of 6: Select an Existing Model (Mac)
Step 1. Open the Microsoft Word document to edit
Double-click the program icon with the white "W" on a dark blue background. Based on your Word configuration settings, either a new blank document will automatically be created or the main page of the program will be displayed.
If the main Word page appears, skip the next step
Step 2. Access the File menu
It is one of the elements that make up the Word menu bar at the top of the Mac screen. A small drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Choose the New from Template option
It is located at the top of the menu File. The gallery of all available templates will be displayed.
Step 4. Search for the model you want to use
Scroll through the Microsoft Word templates page to view the default options for each or type a keyword into the search bar at the top right of the window.
- For example, if you need to search for a template related to creating an invoice, you will need to use the keyword "invoice" to perform the search.
- In order to carry out this type of search, the computer must be connected to the internet.
Step 5. Select a model
Click the preview icon of the document template you want to use. It will be displayed in a dedicated window where you can examine it more closely.
Step 6. Press the Open button
It is located in the preview window of the chosen template. The selected template will be used by Word to automatically create a new document.
Step 7. Edit the created document according to the chosen template
Most Word templates are made up of simple text that you can replace or modify according to your needs, simply by deleting the existing content and inserting the desired text.
In most cases, you can also change the document's default formatting (font, text color, and size) without changing that of the template itself
Step 8. Save the document
Access the menu File located at the top left of the screen, choose the option Save with name, give the document a name and press the button Save.
Method 3 of 6: Apply a Template to an Existing Word Document (Windows)
Step 1. Open the Word document to edit
Double-click the icon of the file that contains the document to be formatted, based on the template you are going to choose.
This method only works if you are using one of the recently viewed templates. If the template you want to use has never been open before, use it now to create a document, then close it before continuing
Step 2. Access the File menu
It is located in the upper left of the Word window.
Step 3. Choose the Options item
It is visible in the lower left of the "File" menu.
Step 4. Go to the Add-ons tab
It is visible in the left pane of the "Options" window.
Step 5. Open the "Manage" drop-down menu
It is located at the bottom of the main pane of the "Options" window relative to the "Add-ons" tab. A list of items will be displayed.
Step 6. Choose the Templates option
It is visible in the center of the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 7. Press the Go… button
It's located to the right of the "Manage" drop-down menu.
Step 8. Press the Attach… button
It is located at the top right of the window.
Step 9. Select a template
Click the name of the template you want to apply to the document.
Step 10. Press the Open button
It is located at the bottom of the template window. This will open the selected template.
Step 11. Select the "Automatically update document styles" checkbox
It is located below the text field where the model name is visible and is located at the top of the window.
Step 12. Press the OK button
It is located at the bottom of the dialog in use. This way, the formatting of the selected template will be applied to the document you have opened.
Step 13. Save the document
Access the menu File located at the top left of the Word window, choose the option Save with name, double-click the icon of the folder where you want to store the file, name the document and press the button Save.
Method 4 of 6: Apply a Template to an Existing Word Document (Mac)
Step 1. Open the Word document to edit
Double-click the icon of the file that contains the document to be formatted, based on the template you are going to choose.
This method only works if you are using one of the recently viewed templates. If the template you want to use has never been open before, use it now to create a document, then close it before continuing
Step 2. Access the Tools menu
It is located on the left side of the Mac menu bar visible at the top of the screen. A list of items will be displayed.
If the menu Tools is not visible, select the Microsoft Word window to make it appear.
Step 3. Choose the Templates and Add-ons… option
It is one of the items positioned at the bottom of the drop-down menu that appeared. A new dialog will appear.
Step 4. Press the Attach… button
It is located at the top right of the window Templates and add-ons.
Step 5. Select a model
Click the name of the template you want to apply to the document.
Step 6. Press the Open button
This way, the formatting of the selected template will be applied to the document you have opened.
Step 7. Save your document
Access the menu File located at the top left of the screen, choose the option Save with name, give the document a name and press the button Save.
Method 5 of 6: Create a Template (Windows)
Step 1. Open the Microsoft Word document to edit
Double-click the program icon with the white "W" on a dark blue background.
If you want to create a new template from an existing Word document, double-click the icon corresponding to the file and skip the next step
Step 2. Choose the "Blank Document" template
It is located in the upper left of the Word window.
Step 3. Edit your document
Any changes you make, such as spacing, text size, font, etc., will become an integral part of the new template.
If you have chosen to create a template from an existing document, you may not need to make any changes to the content and formatting of the file
Step 4. Access the File menu
It is located in the upper left of the Word window.
Step 5. Choose the Save As item
It is one of the options listed at the top of the menu File appeared.
Step 6. Select the folder in which to save the file
Double-click the name of the directory where you want the new template to be stored.
Step 7. Name your model
Use one that is descriptive, so that you understand immediately what the purpose of the model is.
Step 8. Access the "Files of type" drop-down menu
It is placed below the text field where you entered the file name. A list of items will be displayed.
Step 9. Select the Word Template option
It is one of the items listed at the top of the drop-down menu that appeared.
You can also choose the file type Microsoft Word Macro-Enabled Template if you have inserted macros inside the original document.
Step 10. Press the Save button
It is located in the lower right corner of the save window. Your new model will be stored in the place indicated with the name you have chosen.
At this point you will be able to use the newly created template to format an existing Word document
Method 6 of 6: Create a Template (Mac)
Step 1. Open the Microsoft Word document to edit
Double-click the program icon with the white "W" on a dark blue background.
If you want to create a new template from an existing Word document, double-click the icon corresponding to the file and skip the next step
Step 2. Go to the New tab
It's located at the top left of the main Word screen.
If the main Word page is not visible, go to the menu File and choose the voice New from model.
Step 3. Select the "Blank Document" template
It features a small white A4 sheet. A new, completely blank Word document will be created.
Step 4. Edit your document
Any changes you make, such as spacing, text size, font, etc., will become an integral part of the new template.
If you have chosen to create a template from an existing document, you may not need to make any changes to the content and formatting of the file
Step 5. Access the File menu
It's located at the top left of the Mac menu bar.
Step 6. Select the Save as Template option
It is one of the items listed within the drop-down menu File appeared.
Step 7. Name your model
Use one that is descriptive so that you understand immediately what the purpose of the model is.
Step 8. Access the "File Format" drop-down menu
It is located at the bottom of the dialog box. A list of options will be displayed.
Step 9. Choose the Microsoft Word Template option
It is one of the items listed in the "File Format" menu and has the extension ".dotx".
You can also choose the file type Microsoft Word Macro-Enabled Template if you have inserted macros inside the original document.
Step 10. Press the Save button
It is blue in color and is located at the bottom of the window. The document will be saved to disk as a Word template.