Word has always based new blank documents on Normal.dot. This has not
changed since Word for DOS. Are you having problems with the blank document
(see
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/...ocNotBlank.htm) or do you want
access to the File New dialog or what?

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
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"Bob S" wrote in message
...
Once upon a time you could use File | New and click the Template radio
button and get a truly default template. It didn't carry baggage from
the Normal template or from a document used to make a template.
Everything in it came from the Word defaults in the executable.

In Word 2002 we are blessed with the New Document Task Pain. Is there
a way to get a truly default template in Word 2002?

Bob S