Microsoft word vs word docx how to#
Microsoft word vs word docx free#
Microsoft word vs word docx windows#

Right click the file and select Properties.

The quickest way to tell the difference between a Word template and a Word document is by the file’s Properties via File Explorer.

Microsoft word vs word docx how to#

How to tell the difference between the two formats

Content from the original document that should be deleted or updated (e.g.

Set styles, formatting and layouts can change and/or become diluted as you create more and more documents.

And one that includes building blocks to make your job easier That’s because you’re not working from a well-structured and comprehensive template.

It takes longer to format your document.

Here’s what you run the risk of when you create a new document by copying and modifying an existing document: I’ve written previously about why it’s a good idea to use Word templates. Pitfalls of using a Word document in place of a Word template And then changing the content as required. That is, copying a document to create a new document. So you should never use them as a substitute template. They also have access to building blocks saved within the template (if any exist).Įven though Word documents look identical to templates, they’re not. Word documents adopt styles, formatting, layouts and content from the attached template. So every Word document has a template attached to it. They’re always created from a template – either from Word’s Normal template, or from a customised template document. Word documents are the documents you use everyday in your business. That way, you can revert to the original document should any mishaps occur! What is a Word document? Note: if you do decide to save your templates using the second option, be sure to keep a back up copy of all your templates. This, however, isn’t ideal because it makes it easier to modify and/or overwrite your template. And then open a copy of the template by double-clicking the file in File Explorer. This works best when templates are saved in a personal or workgroup templates folder.īut you can save a template anywhere within your file system. When you create a document from a template, you open a read-only copy of the template. How the settings in your Word template are preserved It’s the base from which you create Word documents. An example building block is a cover page with an alternative layout.Īs you can see, a Word template is essentially a blueprint. So they make it easier and quicker for users to format a document. Building blocks are elements or grouped elements that are inserted with the click of a button. Templates can also include building blocks or drop-in elements.

Text that’s required in every report document, e.g.

A table of contents, and a table of figures (where relevant).

A cover page, with fields to add title and report details.

So, for example, a Report template would contain: What is a Word template?Ī Word template includes only the styles, layout, formatting and content needed for all documents created from that template. And what the pitfalls are when you use a Word document as a substitute template.

So read on to find out the difference between a Word template and a Word document. And yes, you can use a Word document in place of a template.

Microsoft word vs word docx free#

If you're on a Mac, there's also Pages to consider, which is Apple's free word processor.Word documents and Word templates are not one and the same thing, even though they may appear to be.

Microsoft word vs word docx windows#

The office suite is available for both Windows and macOS. When it comes to desktop software, there's the venerable OpenOffice, which includes a word processor as well as multiple other applications that you don't have to pay for. While it doesn't quite have the reach and range of features that Microsoft Word does-particularly when it comes to some layout formats and options for longer documents-you can access it from any computer, and sharing documents is very straightforward. There is of course Google Docs, which is completely free to use and runs inside a web browser as well as on mobile in app form. That means you don't miss out if the rest of your colleagues use Word and you don't. docx file format that Word does, and anyone you're sending to or getting files from doesn't have to know you're not using Word. It may seem like cheating to tell you to use an alternative in a guide to how to use Microsoft Word for free, but bear in mind that a lot of these alternatives are now perfectly comfortable handling the same. Google Docs can save documents in Word format.