edit File Open dialog

[J. Verburg]

Hi,

One of the main annoyances of Word (2003) in my opinion is the way the File
Open dialog works. It always reshuffles the order of the Folders in some
kind of 'last used' order, and it shows files on top, and folders at the
bottom.

I would like to have it show folders first, and always in alphabetical
order. Also a foldertree (like in Windows Explorer) would be helpful.

Is there a way to edit the dialog in this way, or is this a 'wishlist' for
Word 2025?

Jeroen Verburg

 

[mpt]

Hello, Jeroen,

My guess is that the column in your dialog box marked "Date modified" has a
little triangle in it indicating that that is the current way you have
"chosen" to view your files. It's convenient when you are looking for the
most recent file(s) you've edited in that subdirectory.

Left click on the column marked "Name" and I predict you'll get the display
you described.

Clicking again will cause the list to display in ascending order if you're
already seeing the files sorted in descending order, and vice versa.

Richard

 

[J. Verburg]

Changing the sorting order is helpful in many cases, but the File Open
dialog does not let you sort with all folders on top (any order) and newest
file on top (below the folders).
Word 97 always had folders on top, but that has changed in some later
version. Since I use a lot of subfolders, I am trying to find a way to
access them in the easiest way: always on top, or in a separate folder-tree.

Jeroen

 

[mpt]

You're right. Sorting on "Name" (ascending) displays folders in alpha
order then files in alpha order.

I don't see a way to display folders on top in alpha order then files
displaying with most recently modified at top of the list of files (if I
understand you correctly)

You might try creating a shortcut in your folder and naming it with an
underscore (_) as the first character. The shortcut will display as
"file." That might give you control over what displays first in the list of
files (that are displaying _under_ the list of (alpha) folders.

Rightclick in dialog box and choose New | Shortcut . . . .

Richard
I don't see how you could first get the directories to display in alpha
order

 

[J. Verburg]

Thanks for the ideas, but I think there is no easy way, and I would not want
to replace one hassle with another. I just don't understand why it was ever
changed...

Jeroen