Using dotx files opens the template file instead of instantiating a new docx file

Question

When I save Word documents as templates (dotx) in a SharePoint document library I noticed that they always open up as the template file (dotx) and not as a new Word document (docx). I expect that this happens because SharePoint simply opens up
the document "as-is" - disregarding the logic which would normally create a docx document in offline mode. But strangely this works fine when opening the file in explorer view.
Does anyone know if it is possible to use dotx files as intended in SharePoint? Was this behavior introduced when SharePoint 2007 was launched or was it perhaps included with a CU or SP?

Answer 1

You can create a central hub containing content types (called the Content Type Hub).  Timer jobs run throughout the day to copy content types from the Hub to other site collections. Once the content types have been replicated to your site collection
you would change your library settings to allow management of Content Types (Advanced in Library Settings).  Now you can select "Add from Existing content types" (Library settings) and add the content types to your library.  When you are
done you can train your users to create new documents from your standard templates by selecting the content type by clicking the tiny triangle under the New Document button.
Reference
About Content Types:
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Introduction-to-content-types-and-content-type-publishing-e1277a2e-a1e8-4473-9126-91a0647766e5
I did this on an Intranet I setup. When I created a new Project Site (not on Project Server), I added the content types to the document library (e.g. Charter, Plan, Status Reports, Project Document). I then took an additional step and I deleted the default
"Document" content type. and moved "Project Document" to the  top of the list.  I then set the column "project name" (which I added to the project document content type) default value to the name of the project.  This
way when people upload new docs to the library they are "Project Documents" and the Project Name column is populated with the name of the project by default.  - I hope this is helpful - Greg
Gregory Frick