How do I prevent Word from redisplaying multiple minimized open documents when opening a new document?

Anonymous
2010-04-01T09:17:27+00:00

When I have multiple Word documents open, but minimized and I open an already created document, all of the minimized documents will get redisplayed (ie. maximized) to the screen.  Additionally, I believe the last edited document will be displayed on top and its listing on the start/task bar will begin flashing and it will not turn off until the flashing listing is clicked.  I then have to reminimize all of the documents and navigate to the document that I originally wanted open.

As a user, I would want all of the open minimized documents to remain minimized and the document that I'm opening to be presented without having to click anything on the start/task bar.

dmurf

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2012-08-11T17:55:48+00:00

Try this:  Right-click on the lower taskbar (the dark band that runs across the bottom of your screen), in an empty space, not on an icon.  You should see a small window open up that gives you different options for displaying the documents you are working on.  Cascade windows is sometimes helpful if you are going back and forth between different documents.  You can drag the edges of a document so that you can see two documents at the same time.  You just need to click on one to bring it more to the  front.  Stacked windows is another option.  Then you will see all of the documents at once.  That may be what you have had selected.  Side-by-side windows is another.  Experiment with these options.  It may help you.

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Anonymous
2010-04-01T21:52:51+00:00

A newly opened document will not cause other minimized or open Word documents to come to the front. But the newly opened document will not come to the front itself, it launches as an open window. 

The easiest way to eliminate that is by using keyboard shortcuts:

To minimize all the windows and get back to the desktop:        Windows + D

To open a new word blank document                              :       CTRL + N

To open a word document from a location                       :       CTRL + O        

There's an option under Word Options / Advanced / Display, named Show all windows in the taskbar. Turning it off hides all Word icons in the taskbar but one. This way the described behavior disappears but at the same time goes the ease of restoring a minimized document.

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-11-30T05:15:40+00:00

    Since I bought Office 2010 recently, I was able to obtain Microsoft tech support for this question while under warranty.

     

    After working on the problem for many hours with level 1 and 2 technicians, I was ultimately transferred to level 3 support.

     

    My version of the problem involves Word 2010 maximizing one previously minimized file behind any new Word file that I open.

     

    After looking into it, the level 3 person explained that opening a prior file occurred BY DESIGN in Word 2010.  He said he believed it was part of the document recovery function.  He also confirmed that it happened on his computer at Microsoft and it happened as well on the not-yet-released Word 2013 program that he could access.

     

    He did agree it could be annoying and was perhaps unnecessary and said he would forward the problem to team that designs Word.  I did show him that Open Office (a competitor) does have a recovery function and does not open minimized windows unnecessary.  Also, I provided him the link to this discussion, and he said someone from Microsoft would post an official reply in coming days.

    My god, it's unbelievable what one has to go through sometimes to get Microsoft's attention.  I hope that actually follow through.  Thanks so much for taking the time to push them!

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-11-25T04:45:02+00:00

    Prajwal,

    If you send me a PM with an email address, I can send you a psr of the issue.  I figure you might be able to email me given your Support Engineer status, but let me know if we'd have to arrange for contact some other way such that I can send you a psr for this.

    Cheers,

    C64User

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-11-25T04:07:40+00:00

    [My comments in bold for ease of reading.]

    A newly opened document will not cause other minimized or open Word documents to come to the front.

    No, but that's not what dmurf is describing: this user is saying that opening a new document causes all minimised documents to openbehind the newly opened one and, yes, everything needs to be re-minimised.

    dmurf is describing behaviour that seems to be more widespread than MS is giving it credit for; I have exactly the same annoyance and - having tried every described solution I can find on the Net, I'm still stuck with this bug.  I assume it's a bug as you imply that this is not normal behaviour.

    But the newly opened document will not come to the front itself, it launches as an open window.

    No, it doesn't and this is the problem/bug.

    The easiest way to eliminate that is by using keyboard shortcuts:

    To minimize all the windows and get back to the desktop:        Windows + D

    Fair enough, this is probably the quickest work around, but it will still require more clicks/key combos than should be necessary as the default behaviour should be what the 20 'Had this question', too folks are after, i.e. stopping minimised windows from opening when another Word document is double-clicked.

    To open a new word blank document                              :       CTRL + N

    Not part of the problem.

    To open a word document from a location                       :       CTRL + O        

    This would mean that you're accessing Windows Explorer from the already open Word document and, then, when you open the new document, you'd still have the one from which you CRTL + O'ed open and would have exactly the same problem: too many open windows.

    There's an option under Word Options / Advanced / Display, named Show all windows in the taskbar. Turning it off hides all Word icons in the taskbar but one. This way the described behavior disappears but at the same time goes the ease of restoring a minimized document.

    Ya, not a fix for exactly what you say re, "...the ease of restoring a minimised document."

    So, please, have a look at this problem again as what dmurf describes is exactly what quite a few users seem to be experiencing.For interests sake, I'm running a fresh install of Win 7 Pro with MS Office Suite 2010 on a first gen Intel Core i7 set-up, so I don't think incompatibility issues are at fault.I have to set up Outlook to send a psr in relation to this, so, if/when I get that done, I'll come back and let you know that's sent.All the best,C64User

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