Seeking Help with Global Template (.dotm) – Ribbon Buttons Fail with Error 450

[yanlok1345]

Hi VBA experts,

I’m struggling to create a functional global template (.dotm) for Word’s STARTUP folder. Followed guides meticulously, but macros fail or buttons don’t appear.

My Steps:
Created a .docx → saved as .dotm.
Added VBA modules with subs like:

Code: Select all

Sub Apple(Optional control As IRibbonControl)  
    [code]  
End Sub

Used Office RibbonX Editor to add Custom UI (Office 2010+).
XML example:

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<customUI xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2009/07/customui">
  <ribbon>
    <tabs>
      <tab id="Apple" label="Apple">
        <group id="Apple" label="Apple">
          <button id="Apple1" label="Apple" size="large" onAction="Apple" imageMso="HappyFace"/>  
        </group> 
      </tab>
    </tabs>
  </ribbon> 
</customUI>

Saved & placed in:

Code: Select all

C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP

Issues:
Buttons sometimes don’t appear.
When they do, clicking triggers Error 450 (wrong args/not found).

Questions:
Are my Subs’ signatures correct for Ribbon callbacks?
Does the XML need strict namespace/attribute rules?
Any hidden steps for global templates?

Tried:
• Trust Center settings (enable macros/trust locations).
• ThisDocument module vs. standard modules.
• Renaming/rebooting.

Here's the .dotm i created, but it doesn't work. There is no button shown on the ribbon:

Doc1.dotm

Any guidance appreciated!

[snb]

Why don't you upload your Word template ?

Delete:

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

Delete "optional' in

Code: Select all

Sub Apple(Optional control As IRibbonControl)  
    [code]  
End Sub

[Charles Kenyon]

Questions:
Are my Subs’ signatures correct for Ribbon callbacks?
Does the XML need strict namespace/attribute rules?
Any hidden steps for global templates?

This is not a simple process. XML is case-sensitive, unlike vba.
I've been using global templates with ribbon modifications for more than 15 years.
It has been a while since I've done one, though.
Start with Greg's page and some simple steps.
Add one thing/process at a time, get it working, and progress to the next. When you try to do it all at once, there are too many things that could be causing problems.

You probably want to first test as a document template rather than global template to simplify debugging. Otherwise, to debug, you will need to unload the template and open it directly.

References:

• Customize the Ribbon - It doesn't take rocket science by Greg Maxey https://gregmaxey.com/word_tip_pages/cu ... _main.html

• Ribbon X: Customizing the Office Ribbon http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN= ... heckbookA/

SNB suggested attaching your .dotm template. You could put it in a zip folder if it won't upload directly.

Which tool are you using to write the XML? I've used Office RibbonX Editor.

[yanlok1345]

Why don't you upload your Word template ?

Delete:

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

Delete "optional' in

Code: Select all

Sub Apple(Optional control As IRibbonControl)  
    [code]  
End Sub

I’ve just uploaded the file I created, which follows all your suggestion above but in vain. Could you please check if I missed anything that might be causing it not to work?

[yanlok1345]

Questions:
Are my Subs’ signatures correct for Ribbon callbacks?
Does the XML need strict namespace/attribute rules?
Any hidden steps for global templates?

This is not a simple process. XML is case-sensitive, unlike vba.
I've been using global templates with ribbon modifications for more than 15 years.
It has been a while since I've done one, though.
Start with Greg's page and some simple steps.
Add one thing/process at a time, get it working, and progress to the next. When you try to do it all at once, there are too many things that could be causing problems.

You probably want to first test as a document template rather than global template to simplify debugging. Otherwise, to debug, you will need to unload the template and open it directly.

References:

• Customize the Ribbon - It doesn't take rocket science by Greg Maxey https://gregmaxey.com/word_tip_pages/cu ... _main.html

• Ribbon X: Customizing the Office Ribbon http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN= ... heckbookA/

SNB suggested attaching your .dotm template. You could put it in a zip folder if it won't upload directly.

Which tool are you using to write the XML? I've used Office RibbonX Editor.

Thank you for your response. I had already started from Greg's website many times but in vain.

As you can see, the steps in my thread are already extremely simple, yet the issue persists.

I’ve just uploaded the .dotm file to my thread for reference. For clarity, I used Office Ribbon X Editor (as mentioned in my original post).

[snb]

See the attachment

NB: ID's should be unique to identify them.

[yanlok1345]

See the attachment

NB: ID's should be unique to identify them.

Wow! Thank you so much for your help. May I confirm if the steps align with what I’ve written in the main thread?

[snb]

My Steps:
Created a .docx → saved as .dotm.
add a macro in the macrocodule of thisdocument

Code: Select all

Sub M_Apple(Optional control As IRibbonControl)  
    msgBox "snb"
End Sub

3. close the file
4. Use Office RibbonX Editor to add Custom UI (Office 2010+).
5. Open the .dotm file
XML example:

Code: Select all

<customUI xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2009/07/customui">
  <ribbon>
    <tabs>
      <tab id="T_Apple" label="Apple">
        <group id="G_Apple" label="Apple">
          <button id="B_Apple" label="Apple" size="large" onAction="thisdocument.M_Apple" imageMso="HappyFace"/>  
        </group> 
      </tab>
    </tabs>
  </ribbon> 
</customUI>

Save it anywhere
6. In the developer tab add the saved .dotm file as an addin

[yanlok1345]

My Steps:
Created a .docx → saved as .dotm.
add a macro in the macrocodule of thisdocument

Code: Select all

Sub M_Apple(Optional control As IRibbonControl)  
    msgBox "snb"
End Sub

3. close the file
4. Use Office RibbonX Editor to add Custom UI (Office 2010+).
5. Open the .dotm file
XML example:

Code: Select all

<customUI xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2009/07/customui">
  <ribbon>
    <tabs>
      <tab id="T_Apple" label="Apple">
        <group id="G_Apple" label="Apple">
          <button id="B_Apple" label="Apple" size="large" onAction="thisdocument.M_Apple" imageMso="HappyFace"/>  
        </group> 
      </tab>
    </tabs>
  </ribbon> 
</customUI>

Save it anywhere
6. In the developer tab add the saved .dotm file as an addin

Many thanks for your detailed explanation!

[Charles Kenyon]

@snb
Well done!