You can get something like this at
http://home.earthlink.net/~wordsintotype/Template.htm.

Although you could customize Normal.dot to do this, I do not recommend it;
see http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customizat...alTemplate.htm.

It is much better to use a specific template for this purpose and access it
via the File | New dialog. Word 2003 makes this dialog somewhat more
difficult to access, but you can use Tools | Customize to add a button for
the FileNewDialog command on a menu or toolbar.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
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wrote in message
oups.com...
i am a writer and cannot seem to find a way use as a default template a
plain old word document that: indents the first paragraph,
double-spaces and uses times new roman 12 pt.

I have ms basic office 2003. seems to me my old word did this.

p.s. would also love any advice as to how to have a new document appear
without having to go through the multisteps of deciding whether it's a
new doc or folder, etc., i want to create.

thanks anyone!