Minor problem with Word

[snook]

In Word, I want to format documents so that they have a set amount of space between paragraphs, and not have to specify that each time. I know there's a way to do this but I can't seem to remember it and it's starting to 'do me 'ead in'!

I've tried various ways but I always end up having to set the paragraph formatting individually for each document. Obviously I'm missing something...

[Kenzie]

Format, Paragraph, you can choose then to click into "after" and specify how many point sizes you want the space to be.

[snook]

That's fine for that document, Kenzie, but when you open a new one you're back to square one. I need some way to set this option so that it becomes the norm for all documents.

[AussieGeoff]

G'Day

I am a bit rusty but I think you have to modify the normal.dot template.

Find the current normal.dot, it is in C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates in my case, copy it and rename the copy normal.old or something.

Then open word, click Format>Styles and Formatting then find Normal and right click and select Modify then Format, change the spacing "after" to whatever you want>OK, check Add to Template and Autoupdate>OK.

Then File>Save As> change file type to Template (.dot), (the folder will change to your template folder) then click on Normal.dot and click Save. Close Word. The next time you open word you should get the new spacing.

These changes will affect every new document you create but will have no effect on any already existing documents.

If you use styles, and one of them is Body Text, then modify Body Text instead of Normal (modifying Normal is usually not a good idea).

If it does not work, delete normal.dot and rename normal.old to normal.dot.

Geoff

[wickedtart]

Geoffs way is the correct thing to do.

[wideboy]

Geoff's way to do it is ok if you must have all documents like this. However, I would probably leave the normal template alone and just create a new one and give it a name you'll remember. You can then choose that template when you want it. I have three templates that I use like this for different documents.

[snook]

I did it! I must have a blank spot where this subject is concerned 'cos it left me confused even when I'd managed to do it. Thanks, AussieGeoff (not to mention Kenzie, wickedtart and wideboy) for your help.