Previously un-noticed difference

[John Gray]

An easy question for a Monday morning!

In Word 2010 we have a .DOTX template, with the read-only attribute set.

If in Windows Explorer we double-click on it, the template opens as "Document 1".
If we right-click on it and choose Open, the template opens as "the template name.dotx (Read Only)".

Is this what is expected?
Is there any other practical way of preventing the ordinary user from overwriting the template by re-saving it somehow?

[HansV]

Yes, that is to be expected.

The default action for a template is "New", i.e. create a new document from the template. This action is bolded in the context menu, and double-clicking a template performs this action.

S240.png

"Open" is available from the context menu; use this option if you want to edit the template itself. Since it is not the default action, one must select this option explicitly.

[John Gray]

Thanks, Hans!

[Rudi]

Is there any other practical way of preventing the ordinary user from overwriting the template by re-saving it somehow?

If the operative word is "ordinary", you could activate the templates read only file property. That way it will always open as read only and prevent accidental overwriting.

[HansV]

John mentioned in the first post that the read-only attribute has been set.

[Rudi]

Sorry...lazy reading!

[HansV]

If the template is stored in a LAN folder, you could revoke the Write permission on that folder from ordinary users; that way they wouldn't be able to edit or overwrite the template at all.

[DaveA]

If the template is stored in a LAN folder, you could revoke the Write permission on that folder from ordinary users; that way they wouldn't be able to edit or overwrite the template at all.

But they can still save a local copy and use it.

[HansV]

Yes, that is true, but the original template won't be affected.

[DaveA]

Original question
"Is there any other practical way of preventing the ordinary user from overwriting the template by re-saving it somehow?"

[HansV]

Yep...