OT - How to stop MS Word auto-opening a new document

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Level 2

467 points

OT - How to stop MS Word auto-opening a new document

I realise this is not an Apple issue, but perhaps others using MS Word on 10.4.x can help.

When MS Word (2004) opens its always creates a new document. I rarely want this blank document and having looked through the Preferences, I can't seem to find a way to disable it.

Does anyone know how to stop this from happening? Is there a Preference option I am missing? (Same goes for Excel)

Many thanks
Mark

MacBook Pro | 2.16Ghz | 2GB RAM | OS X 10.4.8 | FCS 5.1.1 | QT 7.1.3

Posted on Dec 7, 2006 6:24 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Benjamin Simpson1

Level 2

300 points

Dec 7, 2006 7:55 AM in response to Mark.Burton

In Word's Preferences, click on General.
Check to see if "Show Project Gallery at Startup" is checked, if it isn't check it. This should keep the application from starting with a blank document all the time.

You'll have to do the same to Excel as well.

Ben

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Answer 2

Mark.Burton Author

Level 2

467 points

Dec 8, 2006 4:20 AM in response to baltwo

Everyone is different and everyone has their own habits. For me I don't want a new document when I open Word, its not a big deal, I just don't need it 99% of the time, plus on an Intel Mac this is one less thing Rosetta has to translate. Thanks though for your insightful comment!

In the end I found this Macro - run is once and Word will no longer open with a blank new document anymore. Just create a new Macro and run it once:

Sub NoBlankDocOnApplicationOpen()
WordBasic.ToolsAdvancedSettings Application:="Microsoft Word", _
Option:= "WordSwitches", Setting:="/n"
End Sub

Hope this is useful to others.
--Mark

(Macro found here: http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.mac.office.word/browse_thread/th read/a32dabf5417d1908/3183013d55784d85?lnk=gst&q=runa+macro+atlaunch&rnum=1#3183013d55784d85)

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Answer 3

baltwo

Level 9

62,396 points

Dec 7, 2006 7:15 PM in response to Mark.Burton

Why would you want a word processing or spreadsheet application to load without a document? Most, if not all applications that use documents, launch and put up a default document so you can begin to use it. If this behavior bothers you, then just click the little red button in the upper left-hand corner of the document that pops up.

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Answer 4

Mark.Burton Author

Level 2

467 points

Dec 7, 2006 8:04 AM in response to Benjamin Simpson1

Thanks Banjamin.

I used to have that with the recent window showing first, but now I really just want Word to open without any windows or new documents to click off or close.

Is it just not possible?
Thanks
Mark

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Answer 5

baltwo

Level 9

62,396 points

Dec 8, 2006 9:46 AM in response to Mark.Burton

Glad you found a solution. Good computing.

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