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

Anonymous

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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous

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

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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Anonymous

2013-02-08T16:24:01+00:00

Here we are three years later. It happens to me with Win7. Drives me nuts.

It didn't happen in Vista and doesn't happen to me with Win7. I used both systems and neither gave that problem. I've thoroughly tested with Windows 7 and it definitely is not reproducible. I've only got Windows 7 running at the moment, but with Aero Peak, I stack docs on the Taskbar anyway.
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Anonymous

2013-01-25T01:27:01+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.

hey David, I as well have this same issue. People with this symptom have to be stupid to ignore how annoying it is. It's been driving me nuts for months; specially when you work with a lot of docs it gets confusing. I tried googling around and then finally decided to make myself a member of the forum. It appears there is no satisfactory solution to this.

No official reply from MS. How can sth so basic like this that affects many users be left in the abyss?

By design? It is stupid!!! Bunch of Jack-asses!

I don't want to use Open Office as most people prefer to receive .docx files. I hope this gets fixed.
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Anonymous

2013-01-20T05:40:34+00:00

I'm glad I'm still following this thread and I'm seeing that others are interested/annoyed by the same thing, but, now, it seems we're comiserating and we're still not getting any love from MS.

I've been looking at this at every machine I've got access to: XP's, Vista's (many versions), Win 7 (Pro) and this PITA is ubiquitious.

MS Enginots, where are you? I tell you what: Pay for my MS Computer Science at oh, let's say, MIT (I'm sure you've got the pull to get me in) and I promise, I'll fix this up quick snap.

My CV is deplorable, so you could even write it off as charity! Now, if that isn't a great offer, I don't know what is!

I eagerly anticipate your reply,

C64User

I suspect they just don't care about things like this and they are focusing 99% of their efforts and staff on their soon-to-be nemesis Google (not Apple IMO) as well as their Windows 8 release which they are trying every marketing trick imaginable to get people to accept it. I'm quite certain they know this is their last ditch effort to stay in the game so to speak. It's not at all clear they will succeed.
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