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
    2011-08-04T14:18:09+00:00

    Terry,

    I have to disagree with your statement because I am using Vista with Office 2007 (as controlled and configured by US Army) and it behaves as I wrote in my original query to start this thread.  And this behavior is true acroos all version of Office and Windows I have used (XP, Vista with Office 2007, 2003, XP, etc).  In all cases if you have an already opened Word file that in minimized to the task bar and you open a new Word file by double clicking on the files icon (either in Explorer or in an email, for example) the already minimized Word window will be restored behind the newly opened Word file - every time with no exceptions.  It just plain irratating and stupid.

    It is also stupid to not have consistancy across the Office products in the way they handle the windowing with multiple files open.  Ideally a person would have the option of telling the programs (or the suite as a whole) how he/she would like the windowing to behave but I'm sure the developers haven't thought that far ahead.

    I will try to get screen captures of this behavior so you can see what I, and others, are writing and complaining about.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-06-14T16:55:07+00:00

    I have this problem in Windows 7 with Word 2007. There is nothing unusual about my computer, 3rd party programs, etc. This is a bug, as far as I can tell. I remember when it started happening, because it did not happen prior, same copy of Word, same computer, etc. It was at least a year ago, probably more.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-01-28T21:23:52+00:00

    Yeah, thank you C_LOS. Even though it didn't work for me either, at least you were trying to solve the problem. I am not sure what planet these 'MS MVPs' are living but, this is a very wide spread problem. I think I'll nominate you (C_LOS) for that award for not trying to brush off the issue....

    Rmme

    **

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