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
    2013-04-03T22:28:51+00:00

    have you or anyone found a solution yet?

    I really don't get it why this hasn't yet been solved. The open source suites are just not as good as the microsoft! Man i wish i find a solution for word 2013 so i can work without getting angry.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-04-03T22:41:21+00:00

    No solution that I know of yet.  When I have time I may try to following the instructions that mellejwz posted at http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/09/03/taming-microsoft-word-2007s-file-associations-and-document-windows-part-two/

    I don't have the registry keys listed in the post either, but I may try creating them to see if that works.

    To answer your question on why this hasn't been resolved yet is quite simple.  Fixing non-security-related bugs is not a priority of Microsoft's.  The program is still usable, so they don't want to expend any resources on fixing it.  Any non-security bug that is brought to their attention is then classified as a "feature", no matter how ridiculous that notion may be.

    Every post that I've needed help for on this site goes the same way:  Poster asks for help to a problem; Microsoft agent posts scripted response that either has nothing to do with the problem or is not an actual fix to the problem.  Dozens of posters respond by stating that didn't work and ask for other solutions.  The Microsoft agent responds by marking their original post as the solution and then disappears.http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/09/03/taming-microsoft-word-2007s-file-associations-and-document-windows-part-two/

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-04-04T10:01:05+00:00

    the fixing explanation on security happens everywhere. They give priority to security issues.

    i called microsoft again yesterday and they told me to create a ticket online so i could get a call back.

    the system always gives error. No luck so far :D

    as far as i can say; apart from the blue screen i get time to time nothing annoys me more than this and unfortunately i do not know how to fix it!

    pls try the registry thing and let me know how it worked for you. I have win7 64bit.

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