Forum Discussion
Word templates in SharePoint are now opening as new documents instead of the template itself opening
Up until a couple of weeks ago, if I had a .dotx or .dotm file in SharePoint, clicking on it in the browser would open the template so that I can edit it. Suddenly, I get a "Document 1" as if I'd double clicked it from Explorer. This is fine as a user, as I've had times where people have a bunch of documents saved as templates as they've opened the template and saved.
However, how am I supposed to edit the templates now? I know I can do it via syncing and opening up via Explorer, however this is not ideal as if a document linked to it is in use, my changed version won't sync or will be uploaded as a copy with my laptop name appended to it. The version of the template that everyone is linked to will remain unchanged.
- Just saw this happen today!!
A couple of month's ago, I had tested this functionality and could only open templates as a new document via the desktop app with the template file in an organisational asset library. Now today suddenly, can open as a new doc in the desktop app directly from SharePoint. Although this was only straight forward for a dotx. For a PowerPoint template (potx), I had to first open in browser and then select Open in Desktop for it to open as a new document.
To answer your question on how to edit the dotx (it seems to be the opposite to a potx). First, open it in the browser and then select Open in Desktop. This then opened the dotx for editing.
Not sure if it matters, but my doc library is set as an organisational asset library, minor and major versioning, checkout required, default open in client application.MattBurr Thanks for the reply! Yes I worked out that if I opened in the browser first I could edit the template. It doesn't seem particularly logical given that PowerPoint doesn't operate the same way. I've given up expecting excellence from the largest software company in the world though!
AndrewB_33335I would immediately agree with you. Above all, handling used to be different. How am I supposed to explain to 200 employees who work with it on a daily basis that they now have to take this detour in order to really be able to edit the document? It's annoying that things are always being made worse here.
