How can I open a .dotx file in MS Word in order to edit it?

[Big Byte]

I have an M1 2020 13" MBP, running Sonoma 14.6.1, which was purchased in May 2022. At the time, I also subscribed to MS Office, and have been using it ever since.

I am having difficulty opening .dotx templates that I have created, which I need to do as they sometimes have to be edited.

I've searched the net, but the results seem to be outdated, not helpful, or simply conflicting.

I've tried various methods, such as opening the .dotx file through Finder starting with Library and continuing onto where the templates are stored (no problem finding them), but, whether I open the file by double-clicking on it, using COMMAND + O, or even "Open With", the result is always the same, namely, a new .doc file is created based on that template.

What I want to do, is to open the actual .dotx file - as a .dtox file and not as a .doc file - so that I can then edit it and save the changes.

Any idea how to do that?

Thanks.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Have you tried opening the file from within Word?

In Word --> File menu --> Open, and then navigate to the file that you want to open.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Haven't used Word for a long time, but memory serves me, DOTX files are template files used to create DOCX files. If you want to make change to the template itself, you make the change and then save-as DOTX again I believe..

 

[MacInWin]

Haven't used Word for a long time, but memory serves me, DOTX files are template files used to create DOCX files. If you want to make change to the template itself, you make the change and then save-as DOTX again I believe..

Yep, that's how it works. Save As Template... is an option under the "File" menu in Word. So, to create/amend a template, you use File/New from Template, make the changes, then File and Save As Template and give it a name or replace one that already exists.

 

[vansmith]

Yeah, I think Jake is right here. If my memory serves me right with PPT templates, I think this is how most Office products work.

 

[Big Byte]

Thanks for the replies.

While the suggestion to open a .dotx file (which opens as a .doc file), edit it, and then save it as a .dotx file works, the remaining issue is "where' the .dotx file is then saved - I have the normal options to save it to "Desktop", "Downloads", "Documents", etc., but not the option to save it in the Templates folder that is buried in the Library. So, I then have to go into Finder where I saved the template, cut it, navigate to the folder in Library and then paste it into there.

While doable, it's more work than it should be (ie. I should be able to just save the .dotx file in the Templates folder).

Regardless, at least I can now edit .dotx files.

Thanks, again.

 

[MacInWin]

No need. Just open Word, start a new document. Edit the template (i.e., the various things that you want to be in the template) and then click on "File" and "Save as Template..." and a dialogue box will open to allow you to name the template whatever you want and to change the location where it will save. The default location offered is where the Templates folder you wanted, in the ~/Library. No need for cut/paste/move or anything else.

And if you want to edit an existing Template, just open a new document using that template, make the changes you want and, again, "Save As Template..." and name it what you want, or overwrite the old template. Again, no cut/paste/move searching. Word does the work.