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
    2013-09-23T07:15:19+00:00

    I followed these instructions exactly.

    Date tried:

    Before 09.12.2013 but after 09.05.2013

    It worked. Now minimized stayed minimized when opening a new document.

    Until. On 09.12.2013

    32 Updates were sent from Microsoft. Of the 32, 9 were for Office 2007.

    Updates below.

    After installing these updates my computer was restarted.

    Information below.

    Opening a document and minimizing it I opened another document.

    Sure enough the minimized document maximized to the front of the 2 document.

    Going back to the instruction I followed them again.

    But instead of working like the first time. Now the documents would not open and

    there was an error window.

    Why would Microsoft do this?

    And it could only be Microsoft.

    Security Update

    Microsoft Office 2007 suites (KB2760588)

    Installation date: ‎9/‎12/‎2013 9:06 PM

    Microsoft Office 2007 suites (KB2760411)

    Installation date: ‎9/‎12/‎2013 9:04 PM

    Microsoft Office 2007 suites (KB2760588)

    Installation date: ‎9/‎12/‎2013 8:45 PM

    Microsoft Office 2007 suites (KB2760411)

    Installation date: ‎9/‎12/‎2013 8:42 PM

    Microsoft Office 2007 suites (KB2760588)

    Installation date: ‎9/‎12/‎2013 6:08 PM

    Microsoft Office 2007 suites (KB2597973)

    Installation date: ‎9/‎12/‎2013 6:04 PM

    Microsoft Office Word 2007 (KB2767773)

    Installation date: ‎9/‎12/‎2013 6:03 PM

    Microsoft Office 2007 suites (KB2596825)

    Installation date: ‎9/‎12/‎2013 5:59 PM

    Microsoft Office 2007 suites (KB2760411)

    Installation date: ‎9/‎12/‎2013 5:57 PM

    Processor: AMD Turion X2 Dual-Core Mobile RM-72 2.10GHz

    Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit OS w/Service Pack 1

    RAM: 4.00 GB (3.75 GB usable)

    Microsoft Word 2007

    Help Please?

    Sheilah Say

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-20T21:45:58+00:00

    This is actually not true. The minimized windows may not come to the front, but they are opened again. This answer misses the point of the question; minimized windows should remain minimized.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-24T20:30:40+00:00

    As evidenced by the many postings in this thread (not to mention my own experience in Windows 7), this is most definitely NOT an XP-specific issue.

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