In the previous installment of this article, you learned how to create a new Word template from a blank document. As I previously mentioned, there are other ways to create a template, particularly if you do not want to start from scratch. If that is the case, you can make a copy of an existing template or you can create a template out of an existing document.

Let’s take a look at how you can create a new template from an existing document. This method is useful if the document contains the specialized formatting you would like to apply to future documents.

1. Open Word.
2. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Open.
3. Open the document that you want to create a new template from.
4. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Save As.
5. In the Save As dialog box, do one of the following:
   • If you are running Vista, click Templates under Favorite Links.
   • If you are running Windows XP, click Trusted Templates under Save in.
6. Type in a new name for the template.
7. Select Word Template in the Save as type list, and then click Save.
8. Close the template.

Alternatively, if you have created a Word template but later decide to alter some aspect of the formatting, you can easily edit the template. To make changes to an existing Word template:

1. Open Word.
2. Click the Microsoft Office button and click Open.
3. Browse to the location where the template is stored. Select the template and click Open.
4. Make your changes to the template, and then save it.

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