Word template files (".dotx") are great for creating templates for other Word documents. For example if I were to create a Word template file called "Agreement.dotx" and I were to double click it, Word will by default create a new instance of the template file as a ".docx" instead of allowing me to edit the ".dotx" file itself.

To edit the ".dotx" file I'd have to open up the ".dotx" within Word specifically by doing "File" - "Open." The purpose of a ".dotx" file is to act a template for a new Word document, rather than to act as a template to be filled in and reused (like a Woodpecker template).

If you want to use a ".dotx" file as your Woodpecker document, you'll have to specifically open up the ".dotx" file instead of just "double-clicking" it, since Word will create a new instance of the template file and your Woodpecker fields will not transfer. Also, ".dotx" files cannot be added to your Document Collection because they are not compatible with our Multi-populate or Questionnaire features.

The best way to avoid this is to save a copy of the ".dotx" file as a ".docx" file and then distribute and use the ".docx" version, as the Woodpecker fields will be saved and will transfer.

In short, the recommended way to create and reuse a Woodpecker document is by using a ".docx" file and not a ".dotx" file.