Using Normal.dot In Word 2000

When I open a Word 2000 document, it uses the styles that were stored in that document. Is there a way that when I open a Word 2000 document it uses the styles that are in Normal.dot right from the start?

 

The short answer is no.
The normal.dot is a template for new Word documents.

 

That's too bad. I achieved what I wanted to by opening a Word doc file and clicking Format > Style > Organizer, deleting everything from the left-hand panel, and copying everything from the right-hand panel (Normal) to the left-hand panel.

(Is there a long answer that is perhaps "yes"?