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
    2013-08-30T12:49:54+00:00

    someone said this worked for them on W7 Pro (64bit) and Office 2010 - which is what i have but your fix hasn't worked! (my Office is Pro Plus 32bit)

    :-(

    by the way... i don't normally get *all* existing docs maximised when i open another one, but only one is usually maximised (and i see it happening even before my 'new' doc appears).

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-08-14T13:33:35+00:00

    Well that doesn't help me known of the answers.

     

    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit OS

    With Word 2007.

    Now answer this question. No "no it shouldn't". No "go to advance".

    Just a straight forward answer to resolve the problem.

     

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

     

    Sheilah Say

    I couldn't agree more, Sheilah. Using Word 2007 for Mac and I didn't always have this problem. The one you described magically resolved itself one day. Now my problem is with multiple documents open full size, the first one opened keeps popping to the top after opening a new file or one that was minimized. Only way I can work on the one I want is to keep every file minimized until I want to edit it. Click on one and I'm good to go, but click on the next one and instead ot it staying on top the previous file pops to the top. I was told once to delete the com.microsoft.Word.plist file in Library/Preference but didn't work. Tried to open minimized files using the Command key, sometimes that works, sometimes not. Editing my registry is not something I should have to do to fix this. It is a Microsoft issue/bug in Word (at least Word 2007 for Mac) and if they cared about their customers they'd fix it and send the fix out with one of the myriad of other Bulletins I am always getting.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-08-14T07:35:52+00:00

    Well that doesn't help me known of the answers.

    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit OS

    With Word 2007.

    Now answer this question. No "no it shouldn't". No "go to advance".

    Just a straight forward answer to resolve the problem.

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

    Sheilah Say

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