File>Open takes 2 minutes

[Huck]

When I click File>Open it often (but not always) takes 1- 2 full minutes to
come up with the list of files. There are about 15,000 files (3 GB).
Windows explorer doesn't take so long to pull up the file list. Is this an
inherent problem with word, or is something else going on? How can I fix
this? I like to have all my word files in one directory as it makes it easy
for me to find them.



Any help would be appreciated.



Huck

 

[Graham Mayor]

You need to split up that ridiculously large folder and make proper use of
sub folders and the search facility Windows provides.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Huck Rorick]

Thanks for the reply. I guess if that is the only way to solve the problem,
that is what I have to do. However, it is not the most efficient or
convenient way for me to work. I find files very quickly and efficiently
this way and windows search function is slow and especially slow for my use.
I do maintain subfolders for certain categories of documents.

Huck

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

Another possibility is that Word is trying to reconnect to a disconnected
network drive when you choose File - Open. The fact that the speed varies
would tend to support the idea that the resource is there sometimes, but not
others. What versions of Word and Windows are you running?

Other than that possibility, I'd have to agree with Graham that 15,000 files
is a lot to have in a single folder.


Note that I did find these statements confusing, and possibly at odds:

I find files very quickly and efficiently this way and windows search
function is slow and especially slow for my use.

Windows explorer doesn't take so long to pull up the file list.

 

[Huck Rorick]

I'm running Word 2002 and Windows XP Professional.
How would I check if it is looking for a disconnected network drive? I
don't see how that would be the case since it eventually finds the drive.

regarding the comments I made. Having the 15,000 files in one folder works
for me because of the way I have the files organized. I use a naming
convention that makes it easy to find what I need. If I put them in
different folders then I have to do multiple searches (first look in one
folder, then the next). By experience I know that I miss some files in that
way.

An ability I miss with windows explorer, is the ability to look at all
files in multiple folders at the same time (i.e. as though they were all in
one folder) organized alphabetically or by date or file type, etc.

Windows explorer doesn't bog down on the 15,000 files. MS Word does. That
seems odd to me.

Huck