Microsoft KB Archive/94844

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{| The information in this article applies to:
 * width="100%"|
 * Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a

SYMPTOMS
If Word for Windows is running, you cannot create a new document based on a NORMAL.DOT template other than the one that was used when you started the current Word session.

MORE INFORMATION
When Word is started, it checks the directory specified in the DOT-Path entry in the below listed .INI file:

Version              Location          Section ---                        --- Word version 6.x      WINWORD6.INI      [Microsoft Word] Word version 2.x     WIN.INI           [Microsoft Word 2.0] Word version 1.x     WIN.INI           [Microsoft Word] The program also checks the Word program directory for a NORMAL.DOT file. If this file is found, Word starts the session with that template; if one is not found, Word starts the session with the Word default settings (if any changes are made to the template during that session of Word, a NORMAL.DOT file will be created to store those changes). Once Word is running, if you choose the New command from the File menu and type the path and file name to a different Normal template in the Use Template box, Word will ignore the specified path and create a new document based on the same Normal template it used when you started the current session.

The same procedure occurs if you choose the Template command from the File menu (Document command on the Format menu in Word for Windows version 1.x) to attach a different Normal template--Word will always attach the Normal template that was used to begin the current session.

The only way to specify a different Normal template is to exit Word, modify the DOT-Path entry in the appropriate section of the above listed .INI file so that it specifies the location of the other Normal template, and then restart Word.