Difference between documents with 'docx' and 'dotx' filename extensions
I know that .docx is a Microsoft Word document format and .dotx is a Microsoft Word template format. But what's the difference for the end user?
From my own experience I can say that opening a .dotx file in Microsoft Word has the same effect as copying .docx document and working on a copy in the application.
Am I missing the purpose of templates? What are the advantages of using them over copying and pasting pre-laid out .docx file?
microsoft-word templates
edited Dec 5 at 15:48
Twisty Impersonator
17.7k136395
asked Jan 14 at 15:02
Jacek
12316
add a comment |
I know that .docx is a Microsoft Word document format and .dotx is a Microsoft Word template format. But what's the difference for the end user?
From my own experience I can say that opening a .dotx file in Microsoft Word has the same effect as copying .docx document and working on a copy in the application.
Am I missing the purpose of templates? What are the advantages of using them over copying and pasting pre-laid out .docx file?
microsoft-word templates
edited Dec 5 at 15:48
Twisty Impersonator
17.7k136395
asked Jan 14 at 15:02
Jacek
12316
add a comment |
I know that .docx is a Microsoft Word document format and .dotx is a Microsoft Word template format. But what's the difference for the end user?
From my own experience I can say that opening a .dotx file in Microsoft Word has the same effect as copying .docx document and working on a copy in the application.
Am I missing the purpose of templates? What are the advantages of using them over copying and pasting pre-laid out .docx file?
microsoft-word templates
edited Dec 5 at 15:48
Twisty Impersonator
17.7k136395
asked Jan 14 at 15:02
Jacek
12316
I know that .docx is a Microsoft Word document format and .dotx is a Microsoft Word template format. But what's the difference for the end user?
From my own experience I can say that opening a .dotx file in Microsoft Word has the same effect as copying .docx document and working on a copy in the application.
Am I missing the purpose of templates? What are the advantages of using them over copying and pasting pre-laid out .docx file?
microsoft-word templates
microsoft-word templates
edited Dec 5 at 15:48
Twisty Impersonator
17.7k136395
asked Jan 14 at 15:02
Jacek
12316
edited Dec 5 at 15:48
Twisty Impersonator
17.7k136395
asked Jan 14 at 15:02
Jacek
12316
edited Dec 5 at 15:48
Twisty Impersonator
17.7k136395
edited Dec 5 at 15:48
Twisty Impersonator
17.7k136395
edited Dec 5 at 15:48
Twisty Impersonator
17.7k136395
17.7k136395
asked Jan 14 at 15:02
Jacek
12316
asked Jan 14 at 15:02
Jacek
12316
asked Jan 14 at 15:02
Jacek
12316
12316
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
If you open a .dot (or .dotx), there is no ‘save’, it is always interpreted as ‘Save as’.
The main effect of this is that users cannot accidentially save their filled version over the template, which otherwise is quite annoying for the next template user.
You are correct that otherwise there is little difference; after all, you can make a doc or docx to a template by simply renaming the file on disk.
answered Jan 14 at 15:05
Aganju
8,42231335
Also, opening a dotx document puts it in the templates folder automatically, so you can do new->templates->that file.
– LPChip
Jan 14 at 15:06
1
True of .DOC renamed to .DOT but NOT with DOCX renamed to DOTX. Since Office 2007, you cannot simply change the file's extension. If you do, Word (PowerPoint/Excel) will refuse to open the file.
– Steve Rindsberg
Jan 14 at 17:02
add a comment |
Am I missing the purpouse of templates? What are the adventages of using them over copying and pasting pre-layouted .docx?
Opening template may be faster and "copying" process is on Word, not on user.
For example if you would like to programmatically create new Word files, instead of copying existing file (where you need to input location before you even begin working on document itself) or creating new file and applying formatting, you "open" template and after you're done you can decide on saving or discarding new file (instead of deleting existing copy).
It is understandable that for some use, these advantages are not appealing.
answered Jan 14 at 16:05
Chaosu
1463
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
If you open a .dot (or .dotx), there is no ‘save’, it is always interpreted as ‘Save as’.
The main effect of this is that users cannot accidentially save their filled version over the template, which otherwise is quite annoying for the next template user.
You are correct that otherwise there is little difference; after all, you can make a doc or docx to a template by simply renaming the file on disk.
answered Jan 14 at 15:05
Aganju
8,42231335
Also, opening a dotx document puts it in the templates folder automatically, so you can do new->templates->that file.
– LPChip
Jan 14 at 15:06
1
True of .DOC renamed to .DOT but NOT with DOCX renamed to DOTX. Since Office 2007, you cannot simply change the file's extension. If you do, Word (PowerPoint/Excel) will refuse to open the file.
– Steve Rindsberg
Jan 14 at 17:02
add a comment |
If you open a .dot (or .dotx), there is no ‘save’, it is always interpreted as ‘Save as’.
The main effect of this is that users cannot accidentially save their filled version over the template, which otherwise is quite annoying for the next template user.
You are correct that otherwise there is little difference; after all, you can make a doc or docx to a template by simply renaming the file on disk.
answered Jan 14 at 15:05
Aganju
8,42231335
Also, opening a dotx document puts it in the templates folder automatically, so you can do new->templates->that file.
– LPChip
Jan 14 at 15:06
1
True of .DOC renamed to .DOT but NOT with DOCX renamed to DOTX. Since Office 2007, you cannot simply change the file's extension. If you do, Word (PowerPoint/Excel) will refuse to open the file.
– Steve Rindsberg
Jan 14 at 17:02
add a comment |
If you open a .dot (or .dotx), there is no ‘save’, it is always interpreted as ‘Save as’.
The main effect of this is that users cannot accidentially save their filled version over the template, which otherwise is quite annoying for the next template user.
You are correct that otherwise there is little difference; after all, you can make a doc or docx to a template by simply renaming the file on disk.
answered Jan 14 at 15:05
Aganju
8,42231335
If you open a .dot (or .dotx), there is no ‘save’, it is always interpreted as ‘Save as’.
The main effect of this is that users cannot accidentially save their filled version over the template, which otherwise is quite annoying for the next template user.
You are correct that otherwise there is little difference; after all, you can make a doc or docx to a template by simply renaming the file on disk.
answered Jan 14 at 15:05
Aganju
8,42231335
answered Jan 14 at 15:05
Aganju
8,42231335
answered Jan 14 at 15:05
Aganju
8,42231335
answered Jan 14 at 15:05
Aganju
8,42231335
8,42231335
Also, opening a dotx document puts it in the templates folder automatically, so you can do new->templates->that file.
– LPChip
Jan 14 at 15:06
1
True of .DOC renamed to .DOT but NOT with DOCX renamed to DOTX. Since Office 2007, you cannot simply change the file's extension. If you do, Word (PowerPoint/Excel) will refuse to open the file.
– Steve Rindsberg
Jan 14 at 17:02
add a comment |
Also, opening a dotx document puts it in the templates folder automatically, so you can do new->templates->that file.
– LPChip
Jan 14 at 15:06
1
True of .DOC renamed to .DOT but NOT with DOCX renamed to DOTX. Since Office 2007, you cannot simply change the file's extension. If you do, Word (PowerPoint/Excel) will refuse to open the file.
– Steve Rindsberg
Jan 14 at 17:02
Also, opening a dotx document puts it in the templates folder automatically, so you can do new->templates->that file.
– LPChip
Jan 14 at 15:06
Also, opening a dotx document puts it in the templates folder automatically, so you can do new->templates->that file.
– LPChip
Jan 14 at 15:06
1
1
True of .DOC renamed to .DOT but NOT with DOCX renamed to DOTX. Since Office 2007, you cannot simply change the file's extension. If you do, Word (PowerPoint/Excel) will refuse to open the file.
– Steve Rindsberg
Jan 14 at 17:02
True of .DOC renamed to .DOT but NOT with DOCX renamed to DOTX. Since Office 2007, you cannot simply change the file's extension. If you do, Word (PowerPoint/Excel) will refuse to open the file.
– Steve Rindsberg
Jan 14 at 17:02
add a comment |
Am I missing the purpouse of templates? What are the adventages of using them over copying and pasting pre-layouted .docx?
Opening template may be faster and "copying" process is on Word, not on user.
For example if you would like to programmatically create new Word files, instead of copying existing file (where you need to input location before you even begin working on document itself) or creating new file and applying formatting, you "open" template and after you're done you can decide on saving or discarding new file (instead of deleting existing copy).
It is understandable that for some use, these advantages are not appealing.
answered Jan 14 at 16:05
Chaosu
1463
add a comment |
Am I missing the purpouse of templates? What are the adventages of using them over copying and pasting pre-layouted .docx?
Opening template may be faster and "copying" process is on Word, not on user.
For example if you would like to programmatically create new Word files, instead of copying existing file (where you need to input location before you even begin working on document itself) or creating new file and applying formatting, you "open" template and after you're done you can decide on saving or discarding new file (instead of deleting existing copy).
It is understandable that for some use, these advantages are not appealing.
answered Jan 14 at 16:05
Chaosu
1463
add a comment |
Am I missing the purpouse of templates? What are the adventages of using them over copying and pasting pre-layouted .docx?
Opening template may be faster and "copying" process is on Word, not on user.
For example if you would like to programmatically create new Word files, instead of copying existing file (where you need to input location before you even begin working on document itself) or creating new file and applying formatting, you "open" template and after you're done you can decide on saving or discarding new file (instead of deleting existing copy).
It is understandable that for some use, these advantages are not appealing.
answered Jan 14 at 16:05
Chaosu
1463
Am I missing the purpouse of templates? What are the adventages of using them over copying and pasting pre-layouted .docx?
Opening template may be faster and "copying" process is on Word, not on user.
For example if you would like to programmatically create new Word files, instead of copying existing file (where you need to input location before you even begin working on document itself) or creating new file and applying formatting, you "open" template and after you're done you can decide on saving or discarding new file (instead of deleting existing copy).
It is understandable that for some use, these advantages are not appealing.
answered Jan 14 at 16:05
Chaosu
1463
answered Jan 14 at 16:05
Chaosu
1463
answered Jan 14 at 16:05
Chaosu
1463
answered Jan 14 at 16:05
Chaosu
1463
1463
add a comment |
add a comment |
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