The .dot file extension (DOcument Template) is used by Microsoft Word to store document templates. A template is a document type that creates a copy of itself when you open it. Templates contain pre-formatted settings and allow users to recreate documents with pre-defined margins, headers, fonts and page styles to maintain consistency AND save time. Within a template, you can provide recommended sections or required text for others to use, as well as content controls such as a predefined drop-down list or a company logo.
A number of predefined Word templates for most kinds of documents are available on templates.office.com. You can also create your own template by creating a document, selecting “Save As” and changing the “Save as type” to “Word Template.”
Templates created in older versions of Word (Word 97-2003) have the .dot file extension. While templates created in Word 2007 and later versions have the .dotx (XML file format) extension or .dotm if they are macro-enabled to automate repetitive tasks.
Note: All Microsoft Office suite applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher) have templates!!!!
First published in our June 2016 IT Radix Resource newsletter
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