Template Issues

How to Keep Word Building Blocks Available in New Documents

WPS Editor Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to ensure that custom Word Building Blocks, such as Quick Headers and Quick Tables, remain accessible after a document created from a template is saved, closed, and reopened.

How to Keep Word Building Blocks Available in New Documents

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating and saving a new document based on a custom template containing building blocks.
Observed behavior: Quick Headers, Quick Tables, and other custom Word Building Blocks disappear and cannot be accessed once the document is reopened.

Before you start

Ensure you know the local folder path for your Office Startup folder or your designated Workgroup templates, as storing templates directly in cloud-only locations may cause synchronization issues.

Solution 1Recommended

Store Building Blocks in a Global or Workgroup Template Locally

Save your Building Blocks into a globally accessible template file rather than directly on OneDrive or SharePoint to ensure they load reliably every time.

Building Blocks are attached to template files (.dotx or .dotm), not the document itself. Storing these templates directly in cloud platforms like OneDrive or SharePoint can cause the blocks to fail to load. Instead, use a local folder, network location, or a synchronized cloud folder that acts like a local drive.

Create your Building Block

Select the text, header, or table in your document that you want to save. Navigate to the Insert tab, click on Quick Parts, and select 'Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery'.

Select the correct storage template

In the 'Create New Building Block' dialog box, locate the 'Save in' dropdown menu. Instead of Normal.dotm, select your specific custom template or a dedicated Global Template.

Save the template locally

Ensure the template you selected is saved in your local Office Startup folder (for Global Templates) or your designated Workgroup Templates folder so it is automatically loaded when Word starts.

Store Building Blocks in a Global or Workgroup Template Locally

Template Scope: Store organization-wide items in a Global Template so all documents can access them. Store document-specific items in the specific document template.

Solution 2

Manually Re-attach the Template to the Document

If your building blocks are stored in a specific template, you can manually re-link the template to the current document to restore access.

Manage Templates Easily in WPS Office

Create and Manage Custom Templates Seamlessly with WPS Writer

If you frequently struggle with missing templates or synchronization errors in Microsoft Word, WPS Office provides a streamlined, lightweight environment for creating, saving, and reusing document templates and AutoText.

1. Launch WPS Writer: Open WPS Office and create a new document where you can design your reusable headers, tables, or content blocks.
2. Save as a Custom Template: Click the Menu button, go to 'Save As', and select 'WPS Writer Template (*.wpt)' or 'Word Template (*.dotx)'.
3. Access Custom Templates: When you need to use your assets, open WPS Office, click on 'New', and navigate to the 'Custom' templates tab to launch your pre-configured document securely.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word document and template formats (.docx, .dotx, .dotm).Stable local template management without unexpected cloud synchronization interruptions.Lightweight application that ensures fast loading of custom document assets.Familiar user interface making migration completely seamless.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Word Building Blocks disappear after saving and reopening a document?

Building Blocks are stored in template files (.dotx or .dotm) rather than in the document itself. If the document loses its connection to the template, or if the template was stored directly on OneDrive/SharePoint where syncing behaves differently, the building blocks will not load when you reopen the file.

What is the difference between a Global Template and a Document Template?

A Global Template (stored in the Office Startup folder) makes its macros, AutoText, and Building Blocks available to every open document in Word. A Document Template only provides its specific Building Blocks to documents that were directly created from or manually attached to it.

How do I share Building Blocks with my entire team?

To share Building Blocks across a team, save them into a Workgroup Template. Store this template in a designated network location or a synchronized local cloud folder (like a local Dropbox or OneDrive sync folder, rather than a web URL), and map your team's Word settings to point to this Workgroup Templates folder.

Document & File Issues