When you create a new document, Word uses the Normal templateA template that you can use for any type of document. When you start Word or click New Blank Document, Word creates a new document that is based on the Normal template. You can modify this template to change its formatting or content. to determine the settings, such as fonts, margins of the document, and styles. If you change the settings in this template, all new documents that are based on this template will use the new settings. For example, if your company standard font is 11-point Times, or if you want all new documents to use a larger font size for easier readability, you can change the default font settings.

You can set the default storage locations for documents, templates, and other items that users create or use in Word 2008. By default, the documents are stored in /Users/username/Documents/ on the user computer.

Set default storage locations

You can set the default options for the spelling and grammar checkers in Word. In the Word Preferences dialog box, click Spelling and Grammar, and then select the options that you want.

Add-ins created by using Microsoft Visual Basic do not work in Office 2008. However, if you want to retain the functionality of existing add-ins, you can convert them to a native Mac OS X scripting language such as AppleScript or Automator.

For more information about how to use AppleScript to deliver enhanced Office solutions, see the VBA to AppleScript Migration Guide on the Microsoft Web site (www.microsoft.com/mac).