Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 12, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Neil has created a template that includes many macros used in the development of a report based on the template. When his contractors create a new document based on the template, the macros stay in the template. Neil wonders how to get the macros to "travel" with the document created from the template so he can continue to utilize the macros when the document is sent by the contractor to his office.
When you create a document based on a template, Word shows that template as "attached" to the document. Since the macros are in the template and the template is attached to the document, any macros in the template are available to the document whenever it is open. Thus, there is no need for the document to contain the macros since they are already available through the template.
The rub comes in when you transfer the document to another computer, such as a computer "back at the office." When you open the document, Word checks for the attached template at the indicated path as stored with the document. When it doesn't find it, that means the template isn't available and the macros, therefore, cannot be accessed.
Knowing this is how Word works with macros in the template leads to a solution, though. All you need to do is when you open the document, reattach the template. You should have, at your office, the same template that is being used by your contractors in the field. It is, no doubt, in a different location on your system than it is on those in the field. Reattach the template by following the steps in the tip entitled Changing the Attached Template.
If you find yourself needing to do this quite often, you might consider creating a macro on the home-office computers to do the reattachment for you. This can be very simple, such as this:
Sub AttachTemplate()
Const Target_Template As String = "C:\PathToTemplate\MyTemplate.dotm"
ActiveDocument.AttachedTemplate = Target_Template
End Sub
You'll want to make sure that the Target_Template constant is set to the full path to the template you want to use; the same one used by the contractors out in the field. Make sure the macro is in the Normal template, and you will be all set. You can even assign the macro to the Quick Access Toolbar or give it a shortcut key. Whenever the macro is executed, the attached template for the current document is set to the proper template, and the macros in that template will then be accessible.
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2019-02-25 14:06:26
Mechie
Does Word work differently than Excel?
I do 20x more in Excel than Word. I have an Excel Macro Enabled Template (.xltm). When a new document is generated from that template (by a double click in File Explorer, or via shortcut to said file), the new document includes the macros, AS LONG AS one saves the new file as a macro enabled file that is (.xlsm, not .xlsx). Sounds to me that this is what Neil was looking for with his question of, "how to get the macros to "travel" with the document created from the template". Word has the corresponding file extensions.
I know that there are pros and cons to macro enabled files (but that's another topic).
2019-02-19 12:53:25
Allen
Thank you, Andrew. Definitely a "too close to the forest to see the trees" issue. I appreciate it.
-Allen
2019-02-19 10:45:21
Andrew
indicted==>indicated
2019-02-18 10:30:22
Jay
Does ActiveDocument.AttachedTemplate have advantages over AddIns.Add?
AddIns.Add ("C:\PathToTemplate\MyTemplate.dotm")
2019-02-18 09:53:16
Jay
Does ActiveDocument.AttachedTemplate have advantages over AddIns.Add?
AddIns.Add ("C:\PathToTemplate\MyTemplate.dotm")
2019-02-17 11:09:03
Allen
Hugh,
Thanks for the feedback. Some people like to think there is an editorial staff behind the scenes in the production of this newsletter and the almost 14,000 tips on the Tips.Net sites. There is not; there is only me. (Would that I could afford the staff!) Sometimes I miss things, despite my best intentions or efforts. Thus the reason I appreciate your feedback.
I have corrected the first error point out (the missing word was "get"), but I cannot see the second error you reference; it reads fine to me. Perhaps I am too close to the forest to see the trees, but what is it that you feel is missing or incorrect in the second two-second quote you note?
-Allen
2019-02-16 06:21:04
Hugh Tannenbaum
Good morning. I have been an avid reader of your Word and Excel Tips for many years and have learned so much from these. Thank you. Lately, though, I've been surprised by the number of errors in some of these tips. In this tip, for example, there are two glaring errors that threw me off as this is not what I expect from you. Specifically: "Neil wonders how to the macros to "travel" with the document created from the template so he can continue to utilize the macros when the document is sent by the contractor to his office." is not correct nor is "When you open the document, Word checks for the attached template at the indicted path as stored with the document. When it doesn't find it, that means the template isn't available and the macros, therefore, cannot be accessed." I know typos and minor errors can occur but I expect proofreading can catch them. Again, the gist of what you're saying is clear enough but the errors are jarring.
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