This Tech Tips will show you how to customize your Normal.dot file.  When you open Microsoft Word, you get a blank document (at least, you should!).  You have a pre-set configuration in the blank document that opens.  That is, you have 1.25" left and right margins, you have 1" top and bottom margins, you have Times New Roman font - 12 point.  And you may have other customizations that you have set, like macros and toolbar options. This blank document that opens with these "default settings is called your Normal.dot file.

We are going to do 2 very easy customizations that will take you a few seconds to do.  We will change the left and right margins from 1.25" to 1" and we will change the default font from Times New Roman -12 point to Arial -12 point.

Open Microsoft Word - you get a blank document.  (If you don't, you need to read this Tech Tip - Fixing Your Normal.Dot).

1. Click on the Format Menu and select Font.
2. Choose the Font and Font Size you want to use for all future documents.
3. Click on Default in the lower-left-hand corner.
4. You will get a message asking you if you want to change the default font.  (Notice, it says it will affect the Normal template).
5. Click Yes.

That's it - you just changed the font (and size) of your Normal.dot.

Now change the default left and right margin settings from 1.25" to 1"

1. Click on the File menu and select Page Setup. 
2. Change the left and right margins to 1"
3. Click on Default in the lower left-hand-corner.
4. You will get a message asking you if you want to change the default settings of the page setup.  (Notice, it says it will affect the Normal template).
5. Click Yes.

That's it - you just changed the margins of your Normal.dot.

Try customizing your Normal.dot to the font and margin settings that you like.  If you don't like the new settings, you can always switch back to your old settings.

Future Tech Tips will deal with how to make other templates in Word.