Documents opening in multiple instances, I want one instance

[mr.sandog]

I recently upgraded from Word 97 to Word 2003. I have a feeling this
is an easy fix, so here goes.

Every time I open a new Word document (i.e. double clicking on an email
attachment, double clicking on a file in a folder), Word opens a new
instance of the application. What I was used to with Word 97 was new
documents opening in a new window, in the same instance of Word. I
want this functionality back.

Also, as an aside, when is Word going to get with the program and have
tabs for documents rather than making us deal with the stupid 'Window
-> Arrange All'?

 

[Stefan Blom]

On the Tools menu, click Options. Click the View tab. Clear the
"Windows in taskbar" option.

 

[mr.sandog]

Update - and this is really bizarre.

Although there are four instances of Word open in the Task Bar, when I
look under the "Window" menu in each instance, all 4 documents are
listed under each instance. Weird! I only want one instance - help!!!

 

[Graham Mayor]

This is the new multiple document interface introuduced with Word 2002,
which makes more sense if you are using Windows XP. There is only one
instance of Word running. To have all the windows in one apparent instance,
see Stefan's reply.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[Stefan Blom]

And to confirm that only one instance of Word is running, use the
Windows Task Manager. Look at the Processes tab, where you'll see only
one occurrence of winword.exe.

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


in message

 

[mr.sandog]

That worked, thanks a lot.

Now, are there tabs in Word 2003?

 

[Stefan Blom]

What tabs? If you mean tab stops, look in Format | Tabs to set tab
stops for the currently selected paragraph(s). For more, see
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/formatting/SettingTabs.htm.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

As Graham and Stefan have pointed out, there is only one instance running.
Beginning with Word 2000, Word uses a Single Document Interface instead of
the former Multiple Document Interface. See
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/SDIMDI.htm

 

[mr.sandog]

No, what I mean is tabbed pages, like how Firefox and Opera browsers
display numerous web pages - with tabs at the top.

The way that Word makes you go under the "Window" menu to select other
documents that you have open is kind of ridiculous, considering this is
2006.

 

[C. Moya]

Office is in dire need of tabs. I seriously expected Office 2007 to improve
on the window management aspects... it frustratingly has not. You're right--
it's 2006! Come on people!
The inconsistent use of MDI between apps (contrast Word's *real SDI* to
Excel and PowerPoint's *fake SDI* MDI confusing hybrid) is downright
horrendous. A nice tabbed interface would solve everything.

 

[mr.sandog]

So I take it by your reply that tabs are not available. This is
stupid. MS is asking for someone to eat their lunch, and I hope
someone does, soon. I'm tired of waiting for the tanker to turn to get
what are very obvious, simple improvements in ubiquitious applications.

 

[Stefan Blom]

I'm not familiar with Opera or Firefox, but from your description it
seems as if the SDI interface, which allows you to click buttons for
the various document windows on the taskbar should work equally well.

 

[Greg Maxey]

What are you grousing about? What is stopping you from forming you own
software company? After you take that first step you can have the helm
and steer your tanker on any course you desire.

 

[C. Moya]

Note the OP said *ubiquitous applications.* I think it's perfectly allright
for us Office users and fans to gripe about the lack of real innovation
(once you get past the eye candy) in what is and always has been an
otherwise fantastic software suite.

Some of the bugs and neglected aspects in Office 2007 are simply
unforgivable at this point in time. It often seems like many of the things
were designed and/or coded by amatuers (IMHO). As the head developer at my
company I for one will be campaigning hard to convince the Systems admins to
not rollout Office 2007.

 

[Greg Maxey]

I agree to a point. However, groaning on endlessly here about a
feature that is not present is a bit like shouting in the empty
forrest. Maybe more like pissing in the wind.

I only suggested that he do something about it. Forming his own
software company may very well be his best option for instant
gratification and getting the features "he" thinks should have
priority. As a lower level effort, perhaps he can write a letter, or
send one of those "suggestions for Microsoft." I wish the silly things
didn't appear in these newsgroups, but perhaps if enough people send
the same suggestions then it might be adopted.

Personnally I find the things that MS removed from Office2007 much more
disappointing than the things they didn't add. Things like AutoText
autocomplete, the completely raped organizer, the menus and toolbars,
etc. Like our OP, I groused about those in BETA testing feedback.
Even though I was sending my messages to people with the power to do
something, it didn't do any good.

People here are just users like the OP.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

I was going to respond that some of the Office applications do use tabs.
Excel, OneNote, Visio all use them.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

 

[C. Moya]

Not sure about OneNote... but all those use "subtabs" to show different
sections of the same document. It's not a "Tabbed Document Interface" where
each document is shown as a tab in the parent window.

FrontPage does use a Tabbed Document Interface. As does Access 2007 (with
'07 format databases I think). Visual Studio .NET also uses tabs. In
addition it also represents document "sections" (like Excel's multiple
worksheets) using buttons at the bottom of the window. In fact, Visual
Studio has one of the nicest interfaces I've ever seen (even if 2005 is on
the buggy side).

--
-C. Moya
www.cmoya.com

I was going to respond that some of the Office applications do use tabs.
Excel, OneNote, Visio all use them.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

~~~~~
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

What are you grousing about? What is stopping you from forming you own
software company? After you take that first step you can have the helm
and steer your tanker on any course you desire.

 

[Robert M. Franz (RMF)]

Hi all

[I don't feel any need for tabs showing individual documents. Not worth
the loss in screen real estate IMHO, and Alt-Tab is quick enough.]

FrontPage does use a Tabbed Document Interface. As does Access 2007 (with
'07 format databases I think). Visual Studio .NET also uses tabs. In
addition it also represents document "sections" (like Excel's multiple
worksheets) using buttons at the bottom of the window.

But _that_ approach I would like, using tabs in Word: say, in Normal
View only, getting one tab for each section. Navigating between them via
GoTo seems a lot more clumsy IMHO.

[The setting should be configurable, since it would make no sense at all
in a large merged letter, for instance ].

2cents
Robert

 

[C. Moya]

[I don't feel any need for tabs showing individual documents. Not worth
the loss in screen real estate IMHO, and Alt-Tab is quick enough.]

No arguments here. TDI and SDI should be a choice. All I know is that
regular MDI is all kinds of confusing, unintuitive, and it died 10 years
ago. It's one of the worst UI window paradigms ever (not just my opinion...
but pretty much every UI expert).

But _that_ approach I would like, using tabs in Word: say, in Normal View
only, getting one tab for each section. Navigating between them via GoTo
seems a lot more clumsy IMHO.

It's funny you mention that... I remember Lotus WordPro (AmiPro's successor)
back in 1996 had just that very feature. (I used AmiPro in college). It was
awesome. Word's Document Map alleviates some pains... but it could ohhhh so
be improved upon if they had the inspiration to do it and put a little
effort.

[The setting should be configurable, since it would make no sense at all
in a large merged letter, for instance ].

2cents
Robert