Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. 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: Determining the Template Attached to a Document.

Determining the Template Attached to a Document

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 21, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365


4

Every document has a template associated with it. Templates control things like which styles and macros are available to the document. A document can have only one template associated with it at a time, and you can change that template at any time you desire.

If you want to find out which template is attached to a document, you can do so by displaying the Developer tab of the ribbon and then clicking on the Document Template tool. Word displays the Templates and Add-ins dialog box. (See Figure 1.) The field at the top of the dialog box indicates the name of the template associated with your document.

Figure 1. The Templates and Add-ins dialog box.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (10689) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Determining the Template Attached to a Document.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Making Text Bold

Want a cool shortcut to make your text bold? Here's a method that fits in wonderfully with how things are done in the ...

Discover More

Positive and Negative Colors in a Chart

When creating a line cart, the line can show values both positive and negative values. This tip explains how you can use ...

Discover More

Adding Ampersands to Custom Dictionaries

It appears that Word doesn't allow you to define custom dictionary entries that include ampersands. There are ways you ...

Discover More

Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2013. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word 2013 Step by Step today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Editing a Template

Editing a template can be as easy as editing a regular Word document, provided you know where to find the templates. Here ...

Discover More

Examining Styles and Macros in a Template

Templates are very powerful with the ability to contain both styles and macros. If you want to see what styles and macros ...

Discover More

Protecting the Normal Template During an Update

When Microsoft decides to update your 365 system, you may find that it also overwrites your Normal template. This tip ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 1 + 0?

2023-01-24 04:34:15

Barry

Thank you to both Tomek and Andrew. Both relies are very useful.
Regards
Barry


2023-01-23 11:07:20

Andrew

In a macro, ActiveDocument.AttachedTemplate.Name or ActiveDocument.AttachedTemplate.FullName gives this information.

Andy.


2023-01-22 11:00:36

Tomek

I think it may happen if the open document is a template itself.
This will happen if you save your fila as a template and you continue editing it, or if you open the file that is a template using Open from within Word.
Opening the template from file explorer crates a new document based on that template.
HTH


2023-01-21 08:44:03

Barry

Hi. I tried using this Tip ( Finding the Template Attached to a Document).
In the dialog box the area for the template name is empty and greyed out for some files but not others. Why would that happen if all documents have an associated template? All of the documents are created on the same Word version (2019).
Any suggestions to resolve this greatly appreciated.
Regards
Beepee


This Site

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.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.