You created templates to mail merge letters, but when you go back to look for them, they are not there. Or, you may receive an error message stating: "The specified file was not found ," where file name indicates the location and name of a particular template.
This issue will result if your default word processor is now different than the word processor used to create the templates or if the template files have been moved, damaged or renamed.
Default Word Processor
Templates created for different word processors have different extensions and will not be visible unless the word processor they were created for is the default word processor. Templates created with Microsoft Word will have the .ADT extension while templates created with the ACT! Word Processor will have a .TPL file extension. Your original templates will be visible if you reset your default word processor, as follows:
Templates in ACT! are specific to the database in which they were created, modified or converted. The template (.ADT and .TPL) files must be located in the Templates subfolder under the Databases\<Database_Name>-database files folder, where the <Database_Name> is the database in which you are attempting to use the word processor template. By default these folders are created in the following version specific location:
ACT! 2011
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT Data\Databases
ACT! 2010
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT for Windows 12\Databases
ACT! 2009
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT for Windows 11\Databases
ACT! 2008
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT for Windows 10\Databases
ACT! 2007
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT for Windows 9\Databases
ACT! 2006
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT for Windows 8\Databases
ACT! 2005
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT for Win 7\Databases
(as illustrated for an ACT! 2005 database named Contacts_1 below)

If you have moved the template files, you must return them to this location before they will be available for use in this ACT! database.If you are not sure where your templates are located, you can use Windows Search function to locate them by searching for either *.ADT or *.TPL and then use a file manager utility such as Windows Explorer or My Computer to copy the template files into the correct folder.
Windows Search Function
This issue will result if your default word processor is now different than the word processor used to create the templates or if the template files have been moved, damaged or renamed.
Default Word Processor
Templates created for different word processors have different extensions and will not be visible unless the word processor they were created for is the default word processor. Templates created with Microsoft Word will have the .ADT extension while templates created with the ACT! Word Processor will have a .TPL file extension. Your original templates will be visible if you reset your default word processor, as follows:
- Click the Tools menu, and then click Preferences. The Preferences dialog box appears:
- Under the Communication tab, in the Default application section, change the Word processor entry to the other option in the drop-down list. The option you click must be the Word processor you used to create the templates.
- Click Apply, and then click OK. You will now be able to access your templates.
Templates in ACT! are specific to the database in which they were created, modified or converted. The template (.ADT and .TPL) files must be located in the Templates subfolder under the Databases\<Database_Name>-database files folder, where the <Database_Name> is the database in which you are attempting to use the word processor template. By default these folders are created in the following version specific location:
ACT! 2011
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT Data\Databases
ACT! 2010
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT for Windows 12\Databases
ACT! 2009
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT for Windows 11\Databases
ACT! 2008
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT for Windows 10\Databases
ACT! 2007
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT for Windows 9\Databases
ACT! 2006
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT for Windows 8\Databases
ACT! 2005
C:\Documents and Settings\<User_Name>\My Documents\ACT\ACT for Win 7\Databases
(as illustrated for an ACT! 2005 database named Contacts_1 below)

If you have moved the template files, you must return them to this location before they will be available for use in this ACT! database.If you are not sure where your templates are located, you can use Windows Search function to locate them by searching for either *.ADT or *.TPL and then use a file manager utility such as Windows Explorer or My Computer to copy the template files into the correct folder.
Windows Search Function
Follow the instructions below for your version of Windows:
Note: The following information is provided as a convenience. Sage Software, Inc. does not provide support for Microsoft Products. For more information on this topic go to Microsoft.com
Right-click the Windows Start button, and then click Search from the shortcut menu. The Search Results dialog box appears.
Note: The following information is provided as a convenience. Sage Software, Inc. does not provide support for Microsoft Products. For more information on this topic go to Microsoft.com
Right-click the Windows Start button, and then click Search from the shortcut menu. The Search Results dialog box appears.
- Windows XP and 2003 Server:
- In the Search Results window, type *.adt (or *.tpl) into the All or part of the file name field.
- Click the desired search location in the Look in drop-down list.
- Expand More Advanced Options by clicking it.
- Enable the Search system folders, Search hidden files and folders, and Search subfolders options.
- Clear the Case sensitive and Search tape backup check boxes.
- Click Search Now.
- Windows 2000:
- In the Search Results window, enter *.adt (or *.tpl) into the Search for files or folders named field.
- Click the desired search location in the Look in drop-down list.
- Click Search Now