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Anyone familiar with Word templates please?

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Hi all,,

I am familiar with the core functions of MS word ,i.e just typing a letter,basic formatting such as fonts,colours,cutting and pasting etc.

I have a little project to undertake where i have a block of plain text and i have to use a template (i,e an MS template from the selection in the software or elsewhere) and past the text from a simple document into it.

The trouble is of course that the template has nice columns, the odd picture etc etc and when i try and past into one of the columns, it all gets messy,

Also if i try to delete some stuff on the template and then maybe create my own text box and paste the text into it, the outlines of the deleted stuff are still there and mess up the new stuff !!

Arghhh...seems like templates are a mix of word processing and web editing.

There must be a simpler way? Templates must work otherwise they wouldnt produce them !
Feudal Britain needs land reform. 70% of the land is "owned" by 1 % of the population and at least 50% is unregistered (inherited by landed gentry). Thats why your slave box costs so much..

Comments

  • Mr_Toad
    Mr_Toad Posts: 2,462 Forumite
    I'd have thought that you have to use the template would indicate that you should be reformatting the text rather than trying to reformat the template by deleting stuff.

    I know it can be tricky, I used to produce a bulletin that required a standard layout and getting it right was simple, getting it looking right was not so easy.

    Any chance you can give an example of what you're trying to achieve and why it isn't working?
    One by one the penguins are slowly stealing my sanity.
  • C_Mababejive
    C_Mababejive Posts: 11,668 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Mr_Toad wrote: »
    I'd have thought that you have to use the template would indicate that you should be reformatting the text rather than trying to reformat the template by deleting stuff.

    I know it can be tricky, I used to produce a bulletin that required a standard layout and getting it right was simple, getting it looking right was not so easy.

    Any chance you can give an example of what you're trying to achieve and why it isn't working?

    I hadnt thought of it that way though it sounds obvious ! I guess i might be guilty of overthinking it a bit. I suppose there might be situations where most of the template is ok but you'd like to edit the template structure a little. Maybe im running before i can walk and i should start with just moving text over to existing text areas and see how it flys?
    Feudal Britain needs land reform. 70% of the land is "owned" by 1 % of the population and at least 50% is unregistered (inherited by landed gentry). Thats why your slave box costs so much..
  • Mr_Toad
    Mr_Toad Posts: 2,462 Forumite
    I can totally understand.

    It took me ages the first few times to get it right before I got the hang of it.

    After a while it became second nature to add spaces, carriage returns and other formatting like font size etc. so that the words you have look good in the space you have to put them.
    One by one the penguins are slowly stealing my sanity.
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 2 February 2016 at 7:14PM
    when i try and past into one of the columns, it all gets messy,
    I guess, if you paste instead of typing, you have to use "Keep text only" (without formatting) option.
  • Le_Kirk
    Le_Kirk Posts: 24,515 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 2 February 2016 at 5:08PM
    Are you forced to use the template? You say you have to use the template from "MS template from the selection in the software or elsewhere." If you want to make life simpler and are permitted so to do, why not create your own template. Design your first document, fill in the text and any pictures or other non-text items such as shapes or text boxes and save it as a .doc or .docx. Then open it and delete the text and anything else that won't appear in other documents and save it as .dot or .dotx. This will be your own template which you can open and use instead of the usual NORMAL template (normal.dot or normal.dotx)

    If you create lots of items like newsletters or pamphlets, I find Microsoft Publisher very handy for this. It has placement holders for text and pictures and doesn't jump all over the place when you add/delete text.
  • Oblivion
    Oblivion Posts: 20,248 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic
    Le_Kirk wrote: »
    Are you forced to use the template? You say you have to use the template from "MS template from the selection in the software or elsewhere." If you want to make life simpler and are permitted so to do, why not create your own template. Design your first document, fill in the text and any pictures or other non-text items such as shapes or text boxes and save it as a .doc or .docx. Then open it and delete the text and anything else that won't appear in other documents and save it as .dot or .dotx. This will be your own template which you can open and use instead of the usual NORMAL template (normal.dot or normal.dotx)


    Good advice. This is exactly what I do when I want a reusable layout. That way you are fully in control.
    ... Dave
    Happily retired and enjoying my 14th year of leisure
    I am cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
    Bring me sunshine in your smile
  • C_Mababejive
    C_Mababejive Posts: 11,668 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Thanks ..well i am currently compelled to use a template and progress is being made :)

    My current issue is that i have an A4 portrait page which is split equally into two vertical columns ready for insertion of text.

    I have inserted text into the left column and its about half full but i now have to insert a table which is 3 x 5. Ive created the table but the column on the far right has text in it which is wrapping. I had hoped to drag the right hand side of the table over, perhaps even to span the full width of the A4 page, but some invisible force is preventing that from happening !

    Presumably it is the formatting which is enforcing the twin columns which is preventing the table from spanning across the division.

    My initial thoughts are that there might be a mechanism to pause the formatting ,insert the table, then restart the formatting..so that the twin column set up continues after the table...
    Feudal Britain needs land reform. 70% of the land is "owned" by 1 % of the population and at least 50% is unregistered (inherited by landed gentry). Thats why your slave box costs so much..
  • grumpycrab
    grumpycrab Posts: 5,025 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Bake Off Boss!
    Use continuous section breaks to separate column sections and non-column sections.
    If you put your general location in your Profile, somebody here may be able to come and help you.
  • C_Mababejive
    C_Mababejive Posts: 11,668 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    grumpycrab wrote: »
    Use continuous section breaks to separate column sections and non-column sections.

    :dance: You are a Guru,it worked! onward and upwards .. :dance:
    Feudal Britain needs land reform. 70% of the land is "owned" by 1 % of the population and at least 50% is unregistered (inherited by landed gentry). Thats why your slave box costs so much..
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