A Word template is a tool used to create greater efficiency within Microsoft Word. Templates save time when you have a specific document layout that you turn to regularly. A Word template remembers a document's basic layout, such as the placement of columns, margins and page breaks, and enables you to apply that layout to new documents. Templates are also changeable; you can edit specific components, such as removing a blank page break, and save the revised version. Templates should seldom be changed, though; their job is to keep a set of stylistic constraints that you wish to consistently recreate.

Difficulty: ModerateInstructions1

Click "Open" under the "File" menu in Word. Navigate to the template you wish to modify and open it. In Word versions 2003 and later, templates are kept by default in a folder named "Templates" within the "Microsoft" folder inside the "Applications Data" folder on your C: drive. Once you've opened the file the document title bar will show the name of the template with the suffix: ".dot" instead of showing a normal document name such as "Document 1." This will indicate that the template is open and ready to be modified.

2

Locate the blank page break that you wish to delete and click to place your cursor on the blank page.

3

Click the paragraph-symbol button on the Word toolbar. This is the button to hide or show non-printing style marks that are otherwise invisible. The paragraph symbol looks like a stylized, backwards "P" with a double stem. Clicking this button allows you to view any hidden paragraph markers or page-break markers throughout the template. The paragraph marks look like the paragraph symbol on the toolbar and the page breaks appear as dotted lines.

4

Select with your cursor any of these style markers on the blank page and delete them.

5

Click to place your cursor on the top of the blank page and press "Delete" if the page hasn't already disappeared once the style markers have been deleted.

6

Click "Save" under the "File" menu and close the template.

Tips & WarningsExperts such as Suzanne S. Barnhill and Frank Rice of Microsoft strongly suggest doing all layouts for templates using "Styles." Click "Style" under the "Format" menu in Word to access this dialog box. References Microsoft: Library: Working with Microsoft Word Templates---The Foundation Microsoft Office: Support: Modify a template Microsoft Word MVP FAQ Site: Creating a Template -- The Basics (Part I) Microsoft Office: Support: Add or Delete a Page ResourcesMicrosoft Word MVP FAQ Site: Creating a Template (Part II)

• How to Delete a Blank Page Break in a Word Template [10/14/2010 00:04:02]