Microsoft KB Archive/811468

= You cannot share the Normal.dot file among multiple users in Word =

Article ID: 811468

Article Last Modified on 3/23/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Office Word 2003
 * Microsoft Word 2002 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 2000 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition

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SUMMARY
Microsoft Word does not support the sharing of a single Normal.dot file among multiple users. This is true whether or not the file is marked as read-only.



MORE INFORMATION
The Normal.dot file stores user-specific settings and is not designed to be shared among multiple users on a single computer or over a network. Word accesses the Normal.dot file at various times and makes changes to it based on the user's actions. As a result, Word must have full read and write access to the file at all times.

For items that must be shared on a single computer, create a global template and put it in the office startup template folder or in the workgroup template folder.

306911 How to configure the workgroup templates location during Office XP installation

290232 How to manage Office XP templates in Office programs

240216 How Office 2000 manages templates

Additional query words: Freeze save unexpected template

Keywords: kbinfo kbtemplate kbprb KB811468

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