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Microsoft Word restores all open documents when clicking on a .DOC file

Microsoft Word restores all open documents when clicking on a .DOC file

I tend to have a few Word documents that I keep open all the time, with notes for a long-running project. Normally they are all minimized.

Asked by: Guest | Views: 380
Total answers/comments: 2
Guest [Entry]

"You can fix this problem by blocking Word from using DDE to open files.

In the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Word.Document.12\shell\Open key:

Delete or rename the ddeexec sub-key

In the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Word.Document.12\shell\Open\command key:

Delete or rename the command value (not to be confused with the command key.)
Edit the (Default) value and add ""%1"" (including quotes) at the end

This solves the problem for .docx files. If you also want to solve it for .doc files, do the same thing for Word.Document.8

Thanks to: Rafael's Within Windows which has detailed instructions."
Guest [Entry]

"This is not actually an answer, but rather a workaround.

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, also the ease of restoring a minimized document.

The only way to browse between the open documents is now with the ""Switch windows"" button under the ""View"" menu.

Edit: I did the test on MS Vista, as I don't have a Windows 7 machine at work.

Edit #2: I can confirm that the behavior after turning off ""Show all windows in the taskbar"" is the same also on Windows 7."