"Automatically update" button within Word Manage Styles

Hi guys,


I'm wondering about the "Automatically update" button. See attachment below:

If I have this ticked within my template document. Does this mean that any document made from this template using that style, will automatically updated to match the style within the template document?

Aka I could change styles within my template document and all other documents based on it, would also be changes to match it?


Automatically update.png


Thanks,

Jimmy

What that button does is to cause Word to redefine the Style - in the current document only - to match any formatting changes you make to a paragraph based on that Style. If you want to force a document to keep its existing Style definitions consistent with those of the template on which it is based, go to Developer|Document Template and check the 'Automatically update document styles' option. Note that this will not add new Styles to the document if they're added to the template; neither will it delete Styles from the document that you delete from the template.

What that button does is to cause Word to redefine the Style

Oh gross! what a silly button. I can only see that making more problems than anything else. I'll stick with manually updating styles when I'm happy I've got it right.
I could see if quickening the process.. only very slightly though.

Developer|Document Template and check the 'Automatically update document styles' option

Awesome!
FYI my notation (just something to think about):
Developer>Document Template>Automatically update document[tick/untick]

Note that this will not add new Styles to the document if they're added to the template; neither will it delete Styles from the document that you delete from the template.

Cool. that makes sense.


Thanks macropod!

Jimmy






- in the current document only - to match any formatting changes you make to a paragraph based on that Style. If you want to force a document to keep its existing Style definitions consistent with those of the template on which it is based, go to Developer|Document Template and check the 'Automatically update document styles' option. Note that this will not add new Styles to the document if they're added to the template; neither will it delete Styles from the document that you delete from the template.[/QUOTE]

Originally Posted by JimmyWilliams

FYI my notation (just something to think about):
Developer>Document Template>Automatically update document[tick/untick]

FWIW, the notation I use can be seen in https://www.excelforum.com/word-form...ml#post4723538
Ribbon-level commands are separated by |
Dialogue-level commands are separated by >
Dialogue list selections are indicated by :

[QUOTE=macropod;4723565]

Originally Posted by JimmyWilliams

FYI my notation (just something to think about):
Developer>Document Template>Automatically update document[tick/untick]/QUOTE]
FWIW, the notation I use can be seen in https://www.excelforum.com/word-form...ml#post4723538
Ribbon-level commands are separated by |
Dialogue-level commands are separated by >
Dialogue list selections are indicated by :

Is you're notation a standard? Either on Excelforum or elsewhere? I've made mine to simplify my notes :p

It's what I use. I don't know that there's a published standard.

kk

Awesome. Thanks.

Hi I have experimented with this a bit.

I am correct in saying that it only updates when you open the word document?


And is there a way to make changes to styles within a word document, automatically change the styles in the template that it is connected to?

The 'Automatically update document styles' option does indeed apply whenever a document based on the template is opened. It doesn't immediately affect a closed document and changing one of the Styles in the template doesn't immediately update any documents based on it that might already be open. For example, if you have two such documents open and you modify a Style in one of them using the 'New documents based on this template' option (see your screenshot in post #1), the change updates the template but not the other document until it gets re-opened.

Using the 'New documents based on this template' option (see your screenshot in post #1) answers your second question.

That setting is already all-or-nothing.