Set default font for all users 1

[SelbyGlenn]

Hi there,

The powers at be have decided that all users must now use the same font in all our office products!

How do I globaly change the default font type in Outlook 2002?

Thanks in advance,

Glenn
BEng MCSE CCA

 

[misscrf]

make a global template for each program with the specified font, and then tell people never to change their font when they are working. The hard part will be to get people not to edit their typing and change things manually. But if on a network, everyone can be set to load a global template.

Have fun setting it up!

misscrf

Management is doing things right, leadership is doing the right things

 

[fumei]

A little more detail.

1. Create the global template and make sure that it is saved in the Office Startup folder, NOT the username/Application Data/Microsoft/ blah blah Startup folder. This is important!

2. In the global template, (this works for Word - I am not sure if it will work for other Office apps) do a rerwrite of the actual Font command. Essentially, disable it. Have it instead display a message stating "No font changes are permitted in this document."

Gerry

 

[SelbyGlenn]

Thanks for replying guys. It appears now that "Those who have nothing better to do" have decided that it is ok for users to change the font so long as the default font is Veranda!

Setting the default font is simple enough. The problem now is if I roll out a new normal.dot across the n/w I will have every single secretary come down on me like a ton of bricks! They will lose all their own personal settings!

So the question now is, how do I push out a font change without upsetting the existing normal.dot files?

Thanks again,



Glenn
BEng MCSE CCA

 

[fumei]

Sorry everyone who has heard this rant before.

This is precisely why you should NOT record your macros, or write your code into normal.dot. Leave normal.dot for basic stuff. It is very easy to create and load a startup global template that holds your settings, and your macros. That way when normal.dot is deleted, or overwritten, you do not lose stuff. How many times do you hear (read) of a solution to Word problems is to delete normal.dot? Many, many times. And it IS a solution. Normal.dot gets corrupted easily simply because it gets updated so many times. So deleting it often works. However, deleting it also deletes anything you stored there.

So do NOT store things there! Create and use a global template. Whenever you record a macro, or write some code - store it there. This solves the deleting normal.dot problem, as YOU control the file. If a network admin pushes down a new normal.dot...fine, no problem. It does its thing, and YOUR global will still have your stuff available.

As for the specific problem posted here. The answer is:

Write a script (batch file?) that:

1. renames the existing normal.dot on the machine to personal.dot
2. copies that file to the Office Startup folder
3. pushes down the new normal.dot

If the new normal.dot has the Normal style as Font whatever, then any use of Normal style will be that font.

NOTE 1: depending on the OS, individual normal.dot files are usually stored in Document and Settings/username/Application Data/Microsoft/Templates. This permits different user on the same machine to have different normal.dot files. They are stored under username.

Global templates (at least the ones that always start up with Word) must be placed in the Program Files / Microsoft Office / Office10 / Startup - or something similar. This cause them to be loaded globally every time Word opens.

NOTE 2: having a global template on Startup does NOT open that file itself. It parses the file for code modules and settings. This means you can open AND edit that file at the same time as it is loaded. Changes saved to the global are immediately available.

NOTE 3: should not use Normal style anyway...designed Styles work much better, but that is another rant.

Gerry