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Update to normal.dotm

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Monday, June 15, 2020 4:29 PM

Hello Word Gurus - We are changing our branding. So we need to make changes in normal.dotm to set specific custom styles as default. I have few questions regarding this.

1. How to deploy Normal.dotm to firm-wide users? How do I create installer to deploy? 

2. Is it recommended to make changes in Normal.dotm? 

3. Should we give users option in the Shared or Featured on Word Start screen?

4. If we choose to deploy Normal.dotm, would it replace user's settings (like ribbon, Navigation pane etc) from Word application?

Thanks & Regards,

Khushi

All replies (4)

Tuesday, June 16, 2020 4:32 AM

Hi Khushi,

I will disrupt the order of your questions to make my replies more organized. Thanks for your understanding.

A2 & A4:

It is not recommended to make changes into Global template (Normal.dotm) for clients, which may mess with user's.

As the Global template includes users' default styles and customizations that determine the basic look of a document. 

Deploying the new one to clients, users' original global template will be replaced, the customized settings related to formatting, menus and etc would be lost.

So I suggest you create and deploy Workgroup templates for clients instead of replacing Global template. 

A1:

  • To deploy Workgroup templates via GPO, please checkout the thread below.

How to deploy custamized office templates from GPO

Install Microsoft Office 2016 Administrative Templates

(Please Note: Since the web site is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.)

A3:

Yes, users need to click New > Shared or Custom to get the Workgroup templates.

If you have any updates, please feel free to let us know.

Regards,

Emily

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Friday, June 19, 2020 6:01 AM

Hi Khushi,

I am checking the status of this issue. Do you have any update for it?

Anything unclear or any questions, feel free to post them back to let us know.

Regards,

Emily

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

Click here to learn more. Visit the dedicated forum to share, explore and talk to experts about Microsoft Office 2019.

Friday, June 19, 2020 2:38 PM

Thanks Emily! Quick question-Are these two different ways of deploying the custom template? or need to do both?

  • To deploy Workgroup templates via GPO, please checkout the thread below.

How to deploy customized office templates from GPO

Install Microsoft Office 2016 Administrative Templates

The second one is confusing to me as where to  mention our custom template in the process.

I am not the person who manages Domain Controller or GPO etc. These two resources are not quiet clear to me to convey to the person who is actually going to do it.  So, please give me sometime before I mark this as an answer or close this post in case I have more question from the Administrative person.

I will update here if everything goes well.

Thanks & Regards,

Khushi

Monday, June 22, 2020 8:03 AM

Hi Khushi,

>> Are these two different ways of deploying the custom template? or need to do both?

<< Sorry for my too short previous response. In fact, these links are all I used to introduce how to deploy Workgroup templates via GPO.

To get the Office options in Group Policy Editor, such as “Shared paths” setting, we need to install the Office Administrative Template files, the links in second point are apply to Microsoft 365, Office 2016 and Office 2019.

After installing the Office Administrative Template files, we could set the Shared path for Workgroup templates as in the first point.

>> The second one is confusing to me as where to  mention our custom template in the process.

<< First, you need to create some templates, such as .dotx files, .xltx files and .potx, put them into a shared folder, please make sure clients in your organization could access them.

Then you may set the path of the folder as Workgroup templates path via GPO for your clients in this domain. 

When clients need to use these templates, they need to open Office apps, click New > Shared or Custom to get the Workgroup templates.

Please note, when clients are outside of this domain, these templates are unavailable.

If you need further assistance, feel free to post back.

Regards,

Emily

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they helped. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

Click here to learn more. Visit the dedicated forum to share, explore and talk to experts about Microsoft Office 2019.