Solved Context menu - New - Microsoft Word Document

[debugged]

I'm using Office 2007 with Windows 7 Ultimate in this case.

I have changed the default settings for Word (font, line spacing, etc.) and new Documents to open with my settings when I open them from the Word shortcut (to the .exe file in Program Files). I followed this guide: How do I... Change the normal template in Word 2007 to my preferences? This works fine.

But when I open a new document from the right-click context menu, it always goes back to the old default settings (with Calibri font, etc.), even if I redo the settings again.

The "Normal.dotm" file in C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates folder has my changed settings. Where does the context-new word document get the old settings? I've looked at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx but would not like to alter the ShellNew key without guidance.

Any suggestions for untangling this would be most welcome.

 

[Bill2]

Try restarting your computer after changing the template, Word might still be using the old Normal.dotm.

 

[debugged]

Wouldn't it be nice if it were that simple, but no, rebooted as a matter of course.

It's the "NullFile" string, value blank, in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx\Word.Document.12\ShellNew that gets the shortcut into context menu > new. Where is it getting the "wrong" template from?

 

[Bill2]

It appears Word doesnt use Normal.dotm when you switch to the context menu. See this page for some info and a workaround.

Creating New Word 12 Files from Windows Explorer « Herb Tyson Word Bible Blog

Also, scroll down that page, one of the posters has mentioned a hotfix.

 

[debugged]

Thanks, Bill2 - so an update needed, or just use the shortcut instead of the right-click new, for now.