hi, Neil !

I am using Excel as a menu for 100 users so they don't have to know where the files and templates are kept on the server...

perhaps using (protected) code ?...

Sub NewDocTemplateBased()
With CreateObject("word.application")
.Documents.Add _
Template:="Location To Your\Template Name.dot", _
NewTemplate:=False, DocumentType:=0
.Visible = True
End With
End Sub

hth,
hector.