Is there anyone familiar with word who could tell me how to do this?

I need to produce a template which defaults to Arial Font, 11 point with margins of 2.8cms top and bottom and 2.5cms left and right.

Any help greatly appreciated, this is for my assignment and like and idiot I've left it all till the last minute.

Open a blank new document. Set the font, go to file, page setup and change the border settings. 'File'; 'save as'; chose a meaningful name to save it as and select document template in 'save as type' which will give it an extension of .dot.

To test, 'file'; 'new' and select the template you have just created.

Thanks Max, I had looked at doing it that way before. However, I know I must seem really dumb, but I'm confused about the 11 point bit. Is this the size of the font?

Also when you go to change the margins, you've got top, bottom, which I know needs to be set at 2.8cms then you've got left and right which I know needs to be 2.5cms but then it says gutter? I don't know what to do with this. Also at the bottom it says header and footer, do I need to do anything with those?

Gosh I'm really worried about this assignment I'm just not getting it.

This part is a minute bit of the assignment, I have got to produce a spec weith costs for a complete IT system yet! then I've got to upgrade an exsisting machine which will allow someone to produce colour brochures. I have no idea which DTP software is the best, or how to go about making back ups. I have been told that DVD writers are good for backups, but I don't know anything about this, do you need some sort of backup software aswell?>


Arghhh I could cry, I wish I hadn't left it. I was hoping I would get a brainwave but I haven't.

Point - yes it refers to the font size.
Leave the gutter alone, this refers to space left to allow you to put documents in a binder without obscuring the text.
Header & footer, again leave as this is space reserved for if you want to put in headers & footers.
Don't know about dtp s/w.
CD writer is probably cheaper than a dvd writer and there's loads of free backup s/w on the internet.

Thanks for that Max

I have just tried to print a document showing the font and size and margins by writing a bit text saying this is a template i have configured blah blah blah but now it wont blo0dy print it off, it keeps saying the margins are outside the print area, so how the blinking heck do I show the configuration. Do I make sense? :D

Originally posted by steelblade
Thanks for that Max

I have just tried to print a document showing the font and size and margins by writing a bit text saying this is a template i have configured blah blah blah but now it wont blo0dy print it off, it keeps saying the margins are outside the print area, so how the blinking heck do I show the configuration. Do I make sense? :D
You can't show the configuration. What they are probably looking for are the steps you went throught to achieve your template. Use screens shots, that usually bulks out course work.

Make sure your margins are in cms not ins.

Take one step at a time Steelblade, get this document template sorted first, before you start panicking about backups/DTP/Upgrades or whatever else you need to do.

Sounds like you need to be a bit more organised with your coursework, to ensure you are not faced with panic deadlines.

Its easy for me to sit here and say all this crap, but I have been there, I used to get up at 7.30am on a sunday to write assignments before kids and wife got up. It was the only way I could focus on them.

Max I already thought of screen shots. The software I have to do screen shots is dell paint shop pro. However when I tried to do a screen shot to show how to set the margins it wouldn't allow it!

It's driving me bonkers.

I have done screen shots to show how to insert auto text as thats another thing you need to do, and that worked fine but trying to show the margin settings is a nightmare.

Mikey you are right I haven't been organized at all. I have been putting it off for weeks because I am really unsure of what to do and now its got to the point where I've got to get it done but I'm still stuck.

I think I've made a dreadful mistake thinking I could do this course.

Gutter - an extra bit on the lefthand margin to give a binding edge.

Most commercial DTP seem to use Quark Express.
Tape is still commonly used for commercial backup tho it's expensive

Easy screenshots...
Press 'print screen'. Open Paint or similar. Paste. Works every time for me!