What is Word 97's Normal.dot?

Every Word document you create is based on a template and, in most instances, this will be the template called Normal.dot. Normal.dot is Word's default document template and it is selected whenever you choose to create a new blank document or select the New button on the toolbar.

This template contains the default settings for a Word document, the paper size, margins, font, styles, tab stops and a number of other settings. If you make a change to the default settings in Normal.dot, these changes will affect every new document which you create based on this template. Some changes to Normal.dot can be made by selecting the Default button in a dialogue box where this appears and others can only be made by opening Normal.dot, making the changes to that file and saving it.