When I save Word documents as templates (dotx) in a SharePoint document library I noticed that they always open up as the template file (dotx) and not as a new Word document (docx). I expect that this happens because SharePoint simply opens up the document "as-is" - disregarding the logic which would normally create a docx document in offline mode. But strangely this works fine when opening the file in explorer view.

Does anyone know if it is possible to use dotx files as intended in SharePoint? Was this behavior introduced when SharePoint 2007 was launched or was it perhaps included with a CU or SP?

• Moved by Mike Walsh FIN Monday, May 31, 2010 12:41 PM admin q (From:SharePoint - General Question and Answers and Discussion (pre-SharePoint 2010))

The reason that SharePoint behaves this way is because it has it's own mechanisms for creating new documents from templates and managing the templates used. Therefore when you click to open a dotx file in a library it is assuming you just want to edit that template

It is possible to use dotx files as your templates. The way to do it is not to store it as a regular document in the library. You have to make the .dotx file the template for that library, then when you press the "New" button in the library it will create a new .docx file from that .dotx file. 

To do this go to the library settings, and then go to the advanced settings page. You will then see options to set the path for the template or to edit the existing template. If you want to use multiple different templates in the one library you will need to allow the management of content types and then create a different content type for each template you want to use.

 

 

• Marked as answer by Lily Wu Tuesday, June 08, 2010 3:40 AM

Hi

What if I would really want a list with template files, which I can only open so that they automatically create a normal file?
I wanted to put these in a document library but as this is not possible, what could be a workaround?

Thanks

Hi Steven,

Thanks for your reply (and thanks for the tip). Unfortunately my Windows Live email was not confirmed so I did not receive any alerts when you replied. Just happened to browse by and saw your reply...

Hi Sjokke,

I have the same requirement. Have you found a solution to this?

Thanks,
M

I'm sorry M., haven't found any solution yet.

This may be a little late, but I am faced with the same requirement. The way we handled it was to open the library in explorer view (Open with Explorer). This, of course opens the library in the file system through webday which then causes Office to treat the templates as templates. I actually created a view page and followed the instructions on this page to create an iFrame that is in fact a Windows Explorer folder in the browser:

http://www.sharepoint-howto.com/2012/01/12/sharepoint-2010-how-to-open-explorer-view-from-document-library/

Hi,

This has bugged me, too.  I use the explorer view by putting a shortcut for it in my "User" folder.  I just double click the "My Name" icon on my Windows 8.1 desktop (Vista+) to open my "User" folder, double click the "Project Templates" shortcut in there, and then I am at the template files in explorer view, ready to double click a template file and create a new document.

The "multiple content type" seems like it might have some utility, but it does not address the main use case at my organization.  We use Microsoft Project Server.  It has a document library for each project plan created, and we use those project libraries extensively (and we create lots of project plans).  We use the same templates from project to project. I'm guessing that setting up a content type for each of our templates for each of our projects would get old fast.  And, if we set up our templates as content types in the library where they are stored, that would let us create new documents only in that library.  That would have very limited utility.

We are still on SharePoint 2010.  Does SharePoint 2013 have any enhancements in this area?

- Dan

You can create a central hub containing content types (called the Content Type Hub).  Timer jobs run throughout the day to copy content types from the Hub to other site collections. Once the content types have been replicated to your site collection you would change your library settings to allow management of Content Types (Advanced in Library Settings).  Now you can select "Add from Existing content types" (Library settings) and add the content types to your library.  When you are done you can train your users to create new documents from your standard templates by selecting the content type by clicking the tiny triangle under the New Document button.

Reference

About Content Types: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Introduction-to-content-types-and-content-type-publishing-e1277a2e-a1e8-4473-9126-91a0647766e5

I did this on an Intranet I setup. When I created a new Project Site (not on Project Server), I added the content types to the document library (e.g. Charter, Plan, Status Reports, Project Document). I then took an additional step and I deleted the default "Document" content type. and moved "Project Document" to the  top of the list.  I then set the column "project name" (which I added to the project document content type) default value to the name of the project.  This way when people upload new docs to the library they are "Project Documents" and the Project Name column is populated with the name of the project by default.  - I hope this is helpful - Greg