Sharing Quick Parts

Question

I am creating a Word Document that will utilize building blocks for the insertion of boilerplate language.  This document needs to be used and accessed by multiple users in different offices.  Is there a way for the building blocks/quick parts for this document to be housed in one location and shared amongst the other users?  Then if any additions/changes need made to the building blocks/quick parts they are updated for all users?

Answer 1

Charles, I don't know about whether it locks the template. If I get some time later, I'll try it, but I have only my home network to look at.

Answer 2

Jay, do you know whether this procedure locks the file for editing when any user has Word open?

Answer 3

In the Sharing Building Blocks part of http://blogs.office.com/b/microsoft-word/archive/2009/02/03/managing-and-administrating-building-blocks.aspx, you'll find a registry entry that can be used to point to a template in a publicly accessible folder on a network share. The SharedDocumentParts entry goes into the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common\General (or replace the 12.0 with 14.0 for Word 2010, or with 15.0 for Word 2013).

Each user who needs access to the shared template will need to have the registry entry placed in the registry on their computer. That could be accomplished by creating a .reg file that can be emailed to each user with instruction to double-click it and follow the prompts. However, it would probably be better to ask the IT department to make it part of the network login script.