Templates are a great way to save time and create consistent Office 2010 documents. They are especially valuable for types of documents that you use frequently, such as weekly presentations, application forms, and expense reports. If possible, you want to use a file that already has the look and feel that you want, with placeholders that you can change to tailor it for your current needs. That’s what a template is—a file where the hard work has been done for you, saving you from having to start with a blank page.
Many templates are available for download on Office.com. The right template can make creating attractive documents much quicker and easier. Additionally, templates are created making the most of various features of the program—features you might not be familiar with and might not otherwise have used. By using templates, you can get a head start with new features, and master methods and techniques you didn't know about.
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In this article
Open a template from the File tab
You can find templates by clicking New on the File tab in the Office 2010 versions of programs such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Templates already on your local hard disk and templates available on Office.com are shown in a visual list, divided by category. Click a category to see the templates it contains, then select the template that you want, and then click Create or Download to open a new Office document using that template.
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Download and use a template from Office.com
You can download templates directly from Office.com too. Browse categories on Office.com or find the template you want by performing a search, and then download it to your hard disk.
To find the template you want, use one of the following methods.
Method 1: Browse categories
All downloadable templates are listed on Office.com, divided by category.
- Open the Templates website on Office.com.
- In the Templates Categories section, select the category that the template you want might belong to. In some cases, sub categories are displayed. Click on them in the same way.
- Each template in the category is displayed with a preview. When you see a template that you like, click the preview to open the template’s details page.
Note Templates for a specific program may not be included in the template list that is finally displayed. We recommend this method to users who have most of the Office programs and who do not select the program the template supports.
Method 2: Search by keyword
- Open the Templates website on Office.com.
- In the search box at the top of the page, type a keyword that describes the kind of template you want, and then press ENTER.
- Each matching template is displayed with a preview. When you see a template that you like, click the preview to open the template’s details page.
Note To limit your search to a particular program or programs, click My Programs or Edit My Programs in the left pane.
Method 3: View all the templates for a particular program
Program-specific category pages are available for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Search and a category list are provided. Use whichever is appropriate. This method is recommended for users who want program-specific templates.
Each template is displayed with a preview. When you see a template that you like, click the preview to open the template’s details page.
Method 4: Check for new and recommended templates
On Office.com, there are many places where announcements are shown, such as new and recommended templates. Each template is displayed with a preview. When you see a template that you like, click the preview to open the template’s details page. When you see a template that you like, we recommend that you download it right away, because the next time you look at the same location a different template may be featured.
Now you’ve found the template you want, follow the steps below to download it.
- Click the template’s preview to open the template’s details page, or point to the template’s thumbnail image.
- Click Download.
- Read the Microsoft Service Agreement, and then click Accept if you accept the terms.
- If you’re prompted to validate that you have a genuine version of Office, follow the on-screen instructions to carry out the validation process.
When the template is finished downloading, the target program opens to a new document using the template. Depending on the template, help explaining how to use it may also be displayed.
Note In some cases, you may be asked where you want to save the template. Click the Save As button and choose a location.
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Advanced: Make your own Office 2010 template
As you become familiar with using templates, you will probably want to try to make your own Office 2010 template. We've collected tips for creating templates for each program just for you.
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Links to more information
Getting started
Excel 2010
OneNote 2010
PowerPoint 2010
Publisher 2010
Word 2010
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