Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007 and 2010. 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: Creating a Letterhead Template.
One of the common tasks people perform in Word is to write letters. Many companies use preprinted letterhead for the first sheet of a letter and then regular paper for subsequent sheets. If you do this, you may be wondering about the best way to format a document that can then be used as letterhead template.
The best way to go about this task depends on the orientation of your letterhead. If your letterhead is across the top margin of the first page, then you will take a different approach than if your letterhead is along the entire left margin of the first page.
If your letterhead is across the top margin of the first page, what you essentially need to do is provide a way for the margins to be different on the first page then it is on subsequent pages of your document. This can be done by using section breaks and setting margins differently in each section, but such an approach can lead to unforeseen problems. The best way is to "play" with the headers in the document to get the spacing you want. Follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Margins tab of the Page Setup dialog box.
Figure 2. The Layout tab of the Page Setup dialog box.
Figure 3. The Paragraph dialog box.
You can now use the template as the basis for your future letters and the letterhead on the first page is automatically compensated for.
If your company's letterhead is oriented along the left margin on the first page (as is the case in many legal firms) then you need to take a different approach to creating the template. Follow these steps, instead:
Figure 4. The Colors and Lines tab of the Format Text Box dialog box.
Figure 5. The Size tab of the Format Text Box dialog box.
Figure 6. The Layout tab of the Format Text Box dialog box.
Figure 7. The Advanced Layout dialog box.
Since the text box you entered was anchored on the first-page header paragraph, the text box appears only on the first page. The text wraps around it, and your margins appear to return to normal on subsequent pages.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (9412) applies to Microsoft Word 2007 and 2010. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Creating a Letterhead Template.
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2015-12-04 01:31:54
Ngor Deng
I think you for this infrometion
2015-09-30 12:51:23
Kathy Burger
In Word 2013, I cannot get my letterhead to be available when I click 'new'. Nor can I get it in the packaged list of headers under insert. This page was not as helpful as I had hoped.
2015-09-10 19:52:49
Dana Bloomquist
I have a letterhead graphic that I need to add to my template. It is currently in a .png format and goes along the left side AND along the bottom. I noticed there were no instructions in the tip for adding the graphic. And I'm not sure I'm going to be successful with a graphic that shaped that way. Do you have any recommendations for that? Should I just have my designer break the letterhead into two pieces and use some in the header and the rest in the footer? Please help!!!
2015-07-21 12:57:33
Jeanne S
I was able to resolve problem by choosing Text Wrapping "Square" (instead of "Tight"). Thanks again for the great tip. It will be a definite time saver.
2015-07-21 11:08:54
Jeanne S
This is a great tip, however I encountered the problem that when I type a paragraph where the text wraps to the next line, the cursor jumps to page 2, bringing the first line of the paragraph with it. I'm not sure how to tweak the instructions to eliminate this problem. I hope you can help. Thank you!
2015-07-14 19:17:31
LK
Our letterhead is a background (like a watermark) that fills the entire page. The second page is different. Is there a way to do this in Word? I'm at my wit's end.
2015-05-19 10:38:34
Doug
The article is good, but I was looking for more specific instructions on how to save a created template so that when I begin a new document, I can pick my custom template from the document types. How do I get my tempalte to show up?
2015-03-29 13:02:15
sadat khan nizami
cool tech
2015-03-26 05:23:35
Jeanne
This tip was great! I knew how to format headers that went horizontally across the page, but not those that went down the page. This will make working with our letterhead so much easier! Thank you for posting!
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