Normal.dot Different for Shell exe of Word - How Can I Change It?

Hey folks - (using Word 2007)

I have the default Normal.dot modified in Word to my taste. When I open from any normal Word shortcut, it opens to the modified NORMAL settings as desired (Times Roman 14pt, etc).

However, I often want to interject a Word doc into a folder using the shell context menu (e.g. right-click -> New -> choose Microsoft Word Doc and open a new doc right there where I want to create and save it). But whenever I open Word from the shell, it opens to the MS-default "NORMAL" which uses Calibri 11pt, etc...

If I manually 'update' the NORMAL style on the spot and click to make it for all future documents AND click the "Change Styles" at top and choose "Set as default" -- it makes no difference... the next time I use shell to open Word, I get the same crappy MS-default NORMAL template.

I opened Normal.dotm (or whatever it is) in Word and it was modified. So what template is the shell command using and how do I modify it OR set the shell to use the Normal.dot template Word uses if I open Word any other way but the shell??!

Thanks!

Thanks for the response, Ranger. I'm afraid I don't quite follow though. I have already modified the Normal.dotm template and it works in all instances (when I click the Word shortcut on desktop for example, the desired template is used).... except when I right-click an empty spot in IE -> New -> MS Word Doc ... in this case only, Word uses some other template. Modifying that template and saving it does not stick for future instances. Next time you open Word via shell menu, you get the MS default template again instead of the modified one, or even the Normal.dotm (which I have modified and saved long ago).

When I looked to see WHICH template Word is using when invoked from the shell menu, (Word orb -> Options -> AddIns -> Manage button at bottom -> change to Template...) it says it is using "Normal" ... but it isn't the Normal.dotm template! So I have no idea where that template is, or what it's called.

An MS Office forum said this cannot be done. That you cannot choose the template used when invoking Word from the right-click -> New shell menu. They claim it will only use that default template and that it cannot be modified (except for the doc at hand, but I don't want to have to modify it EVERY TIME I start Word that way).

If it's true that the template used from the shell menu cannot be modified then I would like to create a new entry in the right-click->New shell menu to start Word with the Normal.dotm template.... I am working on that angle but am not proficient in registry editing. But there should be a way to start Word with the switch /tNormal.dotm and have this command switch in a reg key that will show up in the shell NEW menu.

PS The reason this is important to me, is I often create docs in folders that are buried several levels deep... it is FAR easier to right-click within the folder -> New -> and open a .doc right there where I want to save it, rather than invoke Word from quick launch or some other shortcut, then have to navigate to the buried folder in the Save process... or save to Desktop then cut/paste and navigate to the folder.

Of course it isn't impossible to do the latter, but when you do this a lot, it becomes very tiresome. It is really handy to use the right-click New shell menu to open Word... I just don't know why it won't use the template I want! :)

OK, I found a way to do it. For any future readers who might want to do this:

(A disclaimer that this involves modifying the registry. If this makes any readers nervous I suggest creating a Restore Point before starting.)

1. Install the free program Right Click Enhancer Download Right Click Enhancer 4.3.6

There is a free version and a professional version. You only need the free one linked above. [The author's site was a little confusing to get it - links to free version kept saying 'download trial' - so I just used majorgeeks. The sftw was not bundled with any crapware when I installed it.]

2. Open the program and click on "New Menu Editor." The window opens to show all enabled items in the New shell menu. (That is, all items that will show up when you right-click empty space -> New ->...) While you are here you can select any items you don't want in the New menu, and click the red X above to remove those items. (A removed item appears below in the list of disabled items and can be re-enabled any time.)

3. Microsoft Office Word will probably already be one of the enabled items. It will be listed as either .doc or .docx or you might have both enabled. I chose to modify the .doc entry as I liked saving .doc's and not .docx files, but suit yourself. :) Select .doc (or .docx) and click the red X to remove it.

4. Assuming it was .doc just disabled, scroll down to find it again in the disabled list. Highlight it by single-clicking. Go up to top toolbar and click the chevron (drop-down arrow) next to the green check mark. Choose TEMPLATE (not "Empty").

5. A window opens so you can navigate to the template you want associated with this shell menu shortcut. I wanted Normal.dotm which I have previously modified to my liking. I navigated there but note that the default file selection is .doc so templates won't appear in the nav window. But that's ok... go to the folder where you know the template resides, and manually type in the template's name. In my case, "Normal.dotm" (no quotes), then click OPEN.

Right Click Enhancer will associate the template with .doc and this shortcut, and enable it in the New menu. Now right-click on any empty space -> New -> Miscrosoft Office Word ... and the doc will open using the Normal.dotm template (or your template of choice)! YAY!!!

NOTE: If you don't know where Normal.dotm is stored, copy/paste below into Search...
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates ... and click on Templates folder when it appears... Normal.dotm should be inside.

Hope this helps someone else and saves them several hours of research.