.DOT File Type
File extension: DOT or .dot
Description: Microsoft Word Template
Author of the .dot file extension: Microsoft
Category: Template
Programs that use the .dot file type: Microsoft Word
Explanation of .dot file extensions:
The .dot file extension represents a document template. Document templates are master documents that contain the basic structure, formatting, and other attributes that many similar documents are based on. By creating a template, the user saves time and doesn’t have to start from scratch each time they want to create a new document. For example, a user might create a template for typing memos that already has the desired layout, formatting, name, and date. To create a new memo, the user would just open the memo.dot file that they created and simply fill in the blanks.
Typical problems associated with the .dot file extension:
One of the most common problems with .dot files is a corrupted normal.dot file. The normal.dot file is the default blank Word document. If Word will not open, there’s a good possibility that this file has become corrupt.
Another problem occurs when multiple users share a computer and the normal.dot file acts up. This can happen when User Profiles is turned on. Normal.dot errors sometimes display themselves as a read-only normal.dot, other users default settings may load rather than your own, or you might not be able to customize certain options.
In addition, .dot files can become infected which causes a host of computer errors.
Solutions/Recommendations:
To work around the corrupt normal.dot problem, simply create a new normal.dot file. First, find all instances of normal.dot files by clicking the Start button, Search, and selecting All files and folders. Next, enter “normal.dot” in the file name box. For each normal.dot file you find, rename it by right-clicking the file and choosing Rename. Then rename the file to: Oldnormal.dot.
If your original normal.dot file was corrupt, Word should open properly and will automatically create a new normal.dot file.
For problems with a shared normal.dot file, go to Microsoft’s Knowledgebase - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/167284.
Run a registry cleaner to resolve many common .dot errors.
Associated links:
Microsoft Help and Support - http://support.microsoft.com/
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