Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 9, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
When Gay creates a Building Block and then tries to save it, the default location is for it to be saved in Building Blocks.dotx. Gay would like the default location to be Normal.dotm and wonders if there is a way to permanently specify the change.
As far as we can determine, there is no way to permanently specify a default location for your Building Blocks. Word always assumes that the default is in the Building Blocks.dotx template, as Gay notes. You can, however, modify the location each time you go to save a Building Block.
That being said, there is good reason to allow Word to save your Building Blocks in the default template that it proposes. Traditionally, the Normal template has been a source of potential problems as more and more info gets stuffed into the file. When the Building Blocks are moved to a separate template, this frees up space in the Normal template and means that there is less chance of corrupting the file over time.
The other thing to remember is that Building Blocks tend to be highly customized to the needs of an individual user. By putting them in their own template, that makes it easier to standardize the Normal template across multiple users in a company without disturbing the individualized Building Blocks used by employees.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (7977) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!
Creating custom Building Block entries is not only extremely helpful, but very easy. This tip explains how.
Discover MoreBuilding blocks are a great tool for inserting standard information in your documents. It is also possible, however, to ...
Discover MoreNot all templates are created equal. Word uses two special templates for storing building blocks. If you want to move ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments