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As mentioned, every Word document is based on a template. A template is a .dot file (or group of related files) that contains the structure and tools for shaping the style and page layout of finished files. Templates can contain settings for fonts, styles, page layout parameters, toolbars, macros, AutoText entries, key assignments, menus, and special formatting. By default, Word bases new blank documents on the Normal template (discussed in more detail in the section, "Getting the Scoop on Word's Normal Template").
The main purpose of templates is to make formatting and inserting information into documents as efficient and automatic as possible. The fewer formatting and typing tasks you have to perform, the better. In addition to speeding document creation, templates enable you to provide custom editing environments for particular projects and clients because templates can include interface tools (such as toolbars, macros, and menus) as well as formatting and layout settings. To clarify, templates can assist in document creation tasks in the following ways:
Regardless of the information included in templates, you can use two main types of templates as you work in Word: global templates and document templates. Global templates (most notably the Normal template) contain settings that are available to all documents. In contrast, document templates, such as memo and Web page templates, contain settings that are available only to documents based on that template. When a document is based on a template, the template is attached to the document. (For more information about attaching templates, see the section "Attaching Templates to Documents.") If this difference between global and document templates seems a little cloudy at the moment, don't despair. Once you review the information in this chapter and experiment with templates for a while, you'll quickly see the value of knowing how to use and customize global and document templates as you work.