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
    2013-01-11T04:55:27+00:00

    Anybody else have this showing up in their postings list as 'Answered'?  It is for me, but I'm still having the same problem.  Reading through the thread, I don't find anything that's a fix, so I hope that MS is still looking at this one as david.nc indicated.

    david.nc's answer never came in the 'coming days' seeing as the post is about six weeks old - or maybe they just didn't post their reply here?  david.nc, if they did get back to you, please let us know if/when you can and thanks.

    Best,

    C64User

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-01-11T05:34:16+00:00

    Anybody else have this showing up in their postings list as 'Answered'?  It is for me, but I'm still having the same problem.  Reading through the thread, I don't find anything that's a fix, so I hope that MS is still looking at this one as david.nc indicated.

    david.nc's answer never came in the 'coming days' seeing as the post is about six weeks old - or maybe they just didn't post their reply here?  david.nc, if they did get back to you, please let us know if/when you can and thanks.

    Best,

    C64User

    It's definitely not solved and Microsoft doesn't care clearly after hundreds of posts and complaints about the same problem.  I can't wait for Google to put Microsoft out of business (won't be that long actually) and then we'll have a few years maybe before Google needs to be put to rest.  :)

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-01-19T08:47:36+00:00

    I agree, and I cannot believe this was called a "feature", but finally someone did something right. This bug has been around for a long time with all or, at least, with the most recent versions of Windows and Office.

    And to be honest, I was expecting to read a response from an "engineer" saying: "We just resolve the problem, upgrade to our Office365"...lol

    I am also want to say thank you so much for push them, I am doing my part too, and hopefully we will see a patch soon.

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