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Bridge Author's Template Installation

The Bridge Author's Template is a set of Macros  

Accordingly, WORD waves the security flag

The best place to install the Bridge Author's Template is the Office\Templates folder. You install the program by copying the file (BridgeAuthor.dot) to the folder. For WORD versions prior to 2007, when you want to write something you engage the template by attaching it to a new document via the Tools Menu (Tools, Templates and Add-ins, Attach). Select BridgeAuthor from the available templates, and OK that.

For WORD versions before 2007, the default location for the Templates folder is  Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office (or Office xx)\Templates. When Office was installed, an option to change that location was available. If the option was exercised, you need to find the Templates folder. You can find the location of the templates folder via the Tools Menu in WORD. Navigate your way through Tools, Options, File Locations, User Templates. 

For WORD 2007, life is a little more complicated. You need to place the files (BridgeAuthor.dot and the license file described below) in a trusted location; otherwise, WORD will not allow its macros to run. You can determine where the trusted locations are be clicking the Big Button, then Word Options, then Trust Center. For the Vista operating system, the default location is Your Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates. When running WORD, you can access Bridge Author by using the Big Button to open a New document, then click My Templates..., and finally click on Bridge Author to attach the template to your document. The Bridge Author Menu items are available by clicking on Add-Ins. 

The version of the Bridge Author's Template you download from this site has limited functionality. When you have purchased your personalized license, you will receive a license file that should also be installed in the Office\Templates folder. Installation of that license (simply copy it to the Templates folder) will unlock the full set of program features. The license and the template must be in the same folder.

The personalized license grants you the right to run the Bridge Author's Template on your home, office, and laptop computers. You may not transfer the license to another person, nor share it with others in your organization. The price of the license is $10.95 USD. The license will have your name attached to it, and your name will appear when you engage the template.

The security settings in WORD are designed to protect the computer from unsafe macros. When the Bridge Author's Template is installed, WORD may be unhappy and warn you about the impending invasion. You can get rid of that warning by changing your security setting (via Tools, Macro, Security) to "LOW", but that is not recommended because there are evil macros out there.

The better way to eliminate the warning is to tell WORD that the Bridge Author's Template is safe because it has come from a trusted source.  The Bridge Author's Template has been digitally signed by David J. Weiss.  How you inform WORD may vary slightly depending on your configuration. The objective is to tell word to trust installed templates. If you can make David J. Weiss a trusted source via Tools, Macro, Security, Trusted Publishers (or Trusted Sources), do so by typing David J. Weiss in the text box. Check "Trust all installed add-ins and templates". Then click OK, and WORD will remember that the Bridge Author's Template is OK.

Please consult the FAQ for further information about using the template.

The customizable bridge dictionary, Bridge.dic, should be installed in (that is, copied to) the folder Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Proof. Then let WORD know the bridge dictionary should be consulted by going through Tools, Options, Spelling & Grammar,
      (WORD 2000) Dictionaries. Check the box beside
                               Bridge.dic and click OK.
      (WORD 2003 and later) Custom Dictionaries, Add.
                               Then select Bridge and OK, OK.

The bridge dictionary is actually independent of the Bridge Author's Template (that is, the template does not require the dictionary and vice versa) and is offered free. You may add terms to the dictionary using a text editor such as Notepad.