How to Create Templates (Stationery) in Microsoft Word

Templates, or stationery, are preformatted documents that you can use as a starting point for your own work. Later versions of Microsoft Word include various templates with the program. You can use one of those, use an included template to create your own custom template, or create a template completely from scratch.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Use Included Templates

1. Install templates from your Microsoft Word or Microsoft Office CD, or from the Microsoft Word Web site.
2. Copy files to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates.
3. Open Word.
4. Select New from the File menu.
5. Click on the folder tabs and then the document icons to view available templates in the Preview window.
6. Double-click on an icon to open a template.
7. Follow the instructions in the template to customize it for your own work. You can also make formatting changes if you want to.
8. To save the template, choose the Save As command from the File menu.
9. Choose the Document Template file type.
10. Close the template file.
11. When you reopen the template, what you are opening is actually just a copy of the template, so you can keep using the template again and again. (When you save the file that you've opened, your changes are saved to the copy, not the template itself.) If you want to make changes to the actual template, you need to choose Save As instead of Save, and choose the Document Template file type.

Create a Template From Scratch

12. Open a blank document.
13. Format the document to work as a starting point for other documents. Set the margins, create document styles, and so on.
14. To add a picture to your template, click Picture from the Insert menu.
15. Browse to find appropriate clip art, borders, scanned images, or other artwork on your computer, or copy and paste original artwork created in another program.
16. Add any standard text you want to your template, such as a return address for a letter. Format the text as you want it to look.
17. To save the document as a template, use the Save As command in the File menu.
18. Choose the Document Template file type and click Save.
19. To open your new template, choose New from the File menu, then double-click your template icon in the box that appears.

Tips & Warnings

• Templates are in the ValuPack folder in Microsoft Office CDs.

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