How to Import Autotext Into Word 2007

AutoText entries save time in daily document creation.

If you use the same text entries or graphics over and over again in your business, you might have simplified the process by creating AutoText entries in Microsoft Word 2003. According to Microsoft, you can still use those AutoText entries in Word 2007, but they need to be imported into Word 2007. It may seem like a long process, but once you get started, you will have your Word 2003 AutoText entries available as Quick Parts in Word 2007.

Instructions

Copy the AutoText Template to Word 2007

1. Click on the green "Start Button" in Windows XP at the bottom right of the taskbar to open Windows Explorer. Click "Run" and then type "Explorer" into the "Open" field. Click "OK" to bring up the Windows Explorer window. You are going to copy the Normal11.dot file to the Document Building Blocks folder in Word 2007.

2. Double-click on "My Computer" in the left task pane and then double-click again on "(C:) Local Disk." In the middle task pane, double-click on the "Documents and Settings" folder and then double-click again on "Your User Name." Double-click on "Application Data" and then double click on "Microsoft." Double-click on "Templates" and right-click on the "Normal11.dot" template. Select "Copy" from the drop-down menu.

3. Double-click on the C:\Documents and Settings\user name\Application Data\Microsoft\Document Building Blocks folder in the left task pane. Right-click in the middle task pane and select "Paste." This pastes the Normal11.dot file to the Building Blocks folder.

Import Word 2003 AutoText into Word 2007

1. Open Word 2007 and click on the "Microsoft Office Button." Click on "New" and then click on the "Normal11.dot" template. If you do not see it, check the "My Templates" folder).

2. Click on the "Microsoft Office Button" and then click on "Save." Click the "File Name" field, and save the file as "AutoText.dotx." Click "Continue" at the prompt.

3. Click on the "Microsoft Office Button" and then click on "Convert." You are converting your AutoText template to the Word 2007 format. At the prompt, click "OK."

Add AutoText to Word 2007's Building Blocks Organizer

1. Click on the "Insert Tab," and then on "Quick Parts" in the Text group. Click on the "Building Blocks Organizer" to bring up the Building Blocks dialog box.

2. Select an "AutoText Entry" from the right task pane of the "Building Blocks Organizer" dialog box. Click "Edit Properties," and then click on the "Gallery" field. You can choose any number of gallery areas to place your AutoText like "Headers,""Page Numbers," or "Watermarks."

3. Click "Normal.dotm" in the "Save In" field, and then click "OK" to save the entry. Repeat for each AutoText entry you want to import into Word 2007.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have migrated to Word 2010, you can also import your Word 2003 AutoText entries, although the directions are slightly different. If you upgraded from Word 2007 to Word 2010, your AutoText entries were imported automatically, according to Microsoft (see reference 3).

References

• Office Online: Add AutoText
• Office Online: What Has Changed for the AutoText Feature?
• Office Online: Add AutoText in Word