Whether you’re starting from a built-in template or updating one of your own, Word’s built-in tools help you update templates to suit your needs. To update your template, open the file, make the changes you want, and then save the template.
- Click File, Open.
- Double-click Computer.
- Browse to the Custom Office Templates folder that’s under My Documents.
- Click your template, and click Open.
- Make the changes you want, then save and close the template.
Adding building blocks to a template
Building blocks are reusable pieces of content or other document parts that are stored in galleries to be accessed and reused at any time. You can also save building blocks and distribute them with templates.
For example, you may create a report template that provides your template users with two cover letter types to choose from when they create their own report based on your template.
Adding content controls to a template
Make your templates flexible by adding and configuring content controls, such as rich text controls, pictures, drop-down lists, or date pickers.
For example, you might create a template that includes a drop-down list. If you allow editing to the drop-down list, other people can change the list options to meet their needs.
Note: If content controls are not available, you may have opened a document or a template that was created in an earlier version of Word. To use content controls, you must convert the document to the Word 2013 file format by clicking File, Info, Convert, and then clicking OK. After you convert the document or template, save it.
Before you can add content controls, you need to show the Developer tab.
- Click File, Options, Customize Ribbon.
- Under Customize the Ribbon, select Main Tabs.
- In the list, select the Developer check box, and then click OK.
