Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Saving a Preview with Your Template.
You already know that Word allows you to save your own document templates. These files are blueprints for documents you want to create in the future. When you select New from the File tab (Word 2010 and Word 2013) or Office button (Word 2007), you can use the resulting controls to see a list of templates available for creating new documents. In the left side of the dialog box are the templates and at the right side is a preview of what that template looks like.
You may have already noticed that some of the templates you create don't have a preview available in the dialog box. If this is the case with your template, and you want to have a preview available, you can follow these steps:
At this point you can close the template file. Now when you display templates when creating a new document, your template should have a preview available.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8659) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Saving a Preview with Your Template.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
Need to know where templates are located in Word 2007? The locations may be the same as in earlier versions of the program, ...
Discover MoreYou can configure Word to notify you when it is about to save updates to the Normal template. There may be some confusion, ...
Discover MoreWant to create a customized Quick Access Toolbar and associate that toolbar with a particular template? The task is easier ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2017-09-27 05:15:46
Beata
Thank you
2017-09-14 12:23:26
Graham Spillman
In Word 2007 - don't know about other versions - there seems to be a small glitch in this procedure
I find it works well for a normal unprotected template, but Thumbnail Previews are missing if the template saved has been partially protected by clicking on "Yes, Start enforcing protection" before the document is saved as a Template.
This means you have to choose between having a Preview of an unprotected form OR having a protected template for the form with no preview
I couldn't find any way around this.
Do you have any other ideas?
2014-09-24 12:45:45
Jim Wood
I have a new installation of Office 2013 and this does not work. The thumbnail keeps coming up blank. My .dotx file that is displaying has the text I want in the thumbnail.
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.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2017 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: 
Comments