Word 2007 & Later Key Data File Locations

macropod · #1 07-13-2012, 02:27 PM

On a PC, Word usually stores various key files in the locations indicated below.

If you paste the filepaths into Windows Explorer's Address Bar, it should find them regardless of what your username is. Windows is smart enough to understand what you mean. You ordinarily won't find these folders because they're hidden.

AutoCorrect Entries [formatted]

Formatted entries are stored in the Normal template

AutoCorrect Entries [unformatted]

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Office\*.acl

Bibliography Sources

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Bibliography\Sources.xml

Building Blocks
Look in:

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Document Building Blocks\1033\

under that you may find another numbered folder (eg 14), containing files named 'Building Blocks.dotx' and/or 'Built-In Building Blocks.dotx'
Building Blocks can also be stored in a document template or global template

Charts

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\Charts\*.crtx

Dictionary

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Uproof\Custom.dic

(exclusions also saved here)

List Gallery

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\ListGal.dat

Macros and keyboard shortcuts
Document or template

Quick Access Toolbar

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Office\Word.qat

Also may be saved in a document template or document but cannot be displayed from a loaded global template other than the Normal template

Quick Style Sets

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Quick Styles\*.dotx

(if modified and saved with same name as built-in Quick Style set, will also be saved here) Active Quick Style set is specified in the parent document template when the document is created

Smart Art Graphics

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\LiveContent\User\SmartArt Graphics\

Themes: Document; Fonts; Effects; Colours

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\LiveContent\User\Document Themes\

*.thmx ...\Theme Fonts\
*.xml, ...\Theme Effects\
*.xml, ...\Theme Colors\
*.xml for customized fonts, effects and colours
Active document theme is specified in the parent document template when the document is created

Templates

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\

File names end in .dot, .dotx or .dotm

Charles Kenyon · #2 07-13-2012, 07:48 PM

Quote:

On a PC, Word usually stores various key files in the locations indicated below.

If you paste the filepaths into Windows Explorer's Address Bar, it should find them regardless of what your username is. Windows is smart enough to understand what you mean. You ordinarily won't find these folders because they're hidden.

These are default locations. You or your network administrator may have changed them. If so you can find them using Windows find if you tell it to search in hidden and system folders.

Quote:

AutoCorrect Entries [formatted]
Formatted entries are stored in the Normal template

AutoCorrect Entries [unformatted]

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Office\*.acl

These are language-specific and depend on the language setting of the text in which they were recorded. You may have more than one of these files.

They can be difficult to back up manually. See the tools available at AutoCorrect2007.zip which is the AutoCorrect backup/restore template from the Word MVP FAQ, updated for use with Word 2007 -2021. Another available tool with a gentler user interface is on Greg Maxey's site at AutoCorrect Utility Manager. These both create Word documents that can be edited and which can be used to install these on a new or repaired system.

Quote:

Bibliography Sources

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Bibliography\Sources.xml

Building Blocks

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Document Building Blocks\1033\Building Blocks.dotx

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Temp lates\LiveContent\User\Word Document Building Blocks\1033\Building Blocks.dotx
Can also be stored in a document template or global template

The filename of the default building blocks file in Word 2010-2016 is "Built-In Building Blocks.dotx" and it may be stored in a version-specific subfolder. That file, though, is not used to store any custom building blocks. The folder for Word 2010 is 14; for Word 2013 it is 15; for Word 2016 it is 16.

Building Blocks can be stored in any template. If the template is stored in the Document Building Blocks folder (above) the building blocks will be available in all Word documents. These templates will not show up in the template Add-Ins list, though. They will be available as storage locations for new building blocks. They can also be made global by storing them in the Word Startup Folder or the Office Startup Folder. If they are in a Startup folder they can hold other customizations as global templates and will show up in the Add-Ins list. Where can Building Blocks be stored?

AutoText
AutoText is a type of Building Block but must be stored in Normal.dotm or in the attached template for AutoComplete (a/k/a tooltips) to work in Word 2010. (AutoComplete does not work in Word 2007; in Word 2013 and later AutoComplete will work with AutoText stored in any template that is attached or loaded.) AutoText has been available since Word 97 at least.

Quote:

Charts

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\Charts\*.crtx

Dictionary

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Uproof\Custom.dic

(exclusions also saved here)

Custom Label Definitions (2016 edit)
Custom label setups are stored in the folder %appdata%\Microsoft\Office in a file named pg_custom.xml. You can give this file to other users; they should store it in %appdata%\Microsoft\Office too. (Thank you HansV.)

Quote:

List Gallery (This is where the numbering lists are stored.)

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\ListGal.dat

If you delete this file, the gallery is reset to defaults.

Quote:

Macros and keyboard shortcuts

Document or template

with a .docm or .dotm extension. Stored in the Normal template by default. Recorded macros will be stored in the vba module NewMacros.

Quote:

Quick Access Toolbar (QAT)

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\OFFICE\Word.qat

(Word 2007)
Also may be saved in a document template or document but cannot be displayed from a global template loaded other than the Normal template

In Word 2010-2021 changes to the QAT made through the Word Interface are stored by default in the file Word.officeUI not in the .qat file in the same folder. If both Word 2010-2021 are on the same computer, they will share this file and Word 2013 may reorder the entries. Not sure about Word 2016-19 reordering. See Locations where QAT modifications are stored on my site for the latest information on this.

QAT changes through the interface can also be stored in any document or template. If the template is a global template, the QAT changes will be available in all Word documents and templates. Otherwise, QAT changes stored in a template are available in any document attached to the template. Those stored in a document are available only in the document. I advise storing somewhere other than the default file.Registry
The registry stores numerous settings. I don't pretend to know what they are about.
See What exactly does the Data Key in the Registry Store?
See also How to reset user options and registry settings in Word - Microsoft Support paper

If changes are made to the QAT using XML rather than using the Word Interface, they also can be stored in any xml document or template. Generally these will need to be macro-enabled. See RibbonX: Customizing the Office 2007 Ribbon - by Robert Martin, Ken Puls, and Theresa Hennig and Modify Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) Button Image or Text by Greg Maxey. Doing this gives more options for icons than those available through the interface.

Ribbon Modifications
There is no built-in Ribbon modification in Word 2007. Later versions do allow it. However, the best modifications are actually stored in XML modifications to custom templates. See Customize the Ribbon (It doesn't take rocket science) by Greg Maxey. In versions 2010 and later, it is possible to make modifications through the user interface. Those modifications are stored in the file Word.officeUI along with QAT modifications. (QAT modifications can be stored in other templates through the user interface.)

Quote:

Status Bar
The Status Bar is stored in the registry. Here is the location for Word 2010.

Code:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Word\StatusBar

00 deleteme 1.png

[Custom Quick] Style Sets
C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Quic k Styles\*.dotx[/code](if modified and saved with same name as built-in Quick Style set, will also be saved here) Active Quick Style set is specified in the parent document template when the document is created

If multiple ribbon versions of Word exist are on the system, they share the custom Quick Styles sets.

Quote:

Smart Art Graphics

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\LiveContent\User\SmartArt Graphics\

Themes: Document; Fonts; Effects; Colours
[code]C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Temp lates\LiveContent\User\Document Themes\

Code:

UserTemplates Folder\Document Themes\

*.thmx ...\Theme Fonts\
*.xml, ...\Theme Effects\
*.xml, ...\Theme Colors\
*.xml for customized fonts, effects and colours
Active document theme is specified in the parent document template when the document is created

Current theme location (2018)

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\LiveContent\Managed\Document Themes\1033

where 1033 folder is specific to English US

Quote:

[User]Templates and the Normal.dotm template

Code:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates\

File names end in .dot, .dotx or .dotm

If this is not the location of your user templates you can find them using the vba Editor. Press Alt-F11 to get to it. If the Immediate Window is not at the bottom of the screen, activate it by pressing Ctrl-G.

To get the location of your user templates folder as determined by Word type (or paste) the following line into the Immediate Window and press Enter.

Code:

debug.print application.options.DefaultFilePath(wdUserTemplatesPath)

Custom Office Templates Folder (Office 2013 and later)

Office 2013 introduced the Custom Office Templates folder which can be different from the User Templates folder. It is the default save location for all custom templates for all Office applications. Its location is set under File>Options>Save. For more on this, see my page File New Variations in the Versions of Word.

Startup Folder and Workgroup Templates Folder

See Startup Folder for an explanation of what this folder is and how to find its location. One way to find it is in the Immediate Window of the vba Editor type the following and press Enter.
debug.print application.options.DefaultFilePath(wdStartupPath)

Note, there may also be an OFFICE startup folder which will load into Word. The following are locations for that folder in Word 2007- 2021 with a 64-bit operating system and a 32-bit Office installation:

Word 2007: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12
Word 2010: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
Word 2013: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
Word 2016: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16
Word 2019: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
Word 2021: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16

With a 32-bit operating system and a 32-bit Office installation, they would be:
Word 2007: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12
Word 2010: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14
Word 2013: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15 *
Word 2016: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16 *
Word 2019: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 *
Word 2021: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 *

** I do not know that Office 2013 or higher can be installed on a 32-bit operating system.

(64-bit installations of Office use the same folders as shown above for 32-bit operating systems.)

Workgroup Templates do not have a default filepath. This needs to be set in the Word Options for File Locations and should not be the same folder as the user templates folder. Once set, their location can be determined through those Options or by using the following statement in the vba Editor Immediate Window and pressing Enter:
print options.DefaultFilePath(wdWorkgroupTemplatesPath)

How does this work in practice?
See this thread in the Microsoft Answers site.
Copy Word Options from One Computer to Another

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