Fixing Word text document in the middle of screen

[Martin_asks/answers]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

How can I fix a Word text document automatically in the middle of my (big iMac) screen each time I open such a document?

 

[John McGhie]

Currently, you can't. There are some fixes coming out in Service Release
12.1.0 that will enable Word to be more successful in opening a document in
the position in which it last closed it.

However, there's nothing you can do until the fix arrives (it's in testing
now).

Cheers

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel

How can I fix a Word text document automatically in the middle of my (big
iMac) screen each time I open such a document?

--

Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[mart17]

After the 12.1.0 release and SP1 this option is still not available. I also don't see how it can be "more successful" or not. It either does it or it doesn't.

I meant to refer to 12.0.1 and not 12.1.0 which is SP 1.

 

[John McGhie]

Now, it "sometimes does". That's "more successful". Life gets easier if
you think outside the box just a little

I meant to refer to 12.0.1 and not 12.1.0 which is SP 1.

--

Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[Martin_asks/answers]

Thanks for the replies.

Nice to learn that there are "some fixes coming out in Service Release 12.1.0 that will enable Word to be more successful in opening a document in
the position in which it last closed it". But it would be better (or: "more succesful"), at least for my purposes and desk use, if a fix would enable to position the standard text document, i.e. also new documents.

Best regards,

Martin

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Remembering the last saved position of a document is a feature that used
to be and ought to be in Word. But I don't think Word ever had the
ability to open a *new* document anywhere other than in the upper left
corner, so I wouldn't expect that to be added. You could request it via
Help | Send Feedback.

If you want to invest some effort in resolving this annoyance, one
approach might be to create a new document by invoking an applescript
that creates the new document and then moves it to your preferred location.

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Daiya -

But I don't think Word ever had the
ability to open a *new* document anywhere other than in the upper left
corner

It certainly won't hurt to ask, but unless there is demand equivalent to the
Boxer Rebellion I doubt that it will do much good either IIRC, it was
reported by one of our learned colleagues - who also works in Apple
development environs - that the upper left positioning of a new document
window is dictated by OS X guidelines.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Hi Daiya -



It certainly won't hurt to ask, but unless there is demand equivalent to the
Boxer Rebellion I doubt that it will do much good either

Oh, I totally agree. But I like the idea of MS collecting data. And hey,
maybe there's Boxers out there we haven't heard from.

IIRC, it was
reported by one of our learned colleagues - who also works in Apple
development environs - that the upper left positioning of a new document
window is dictated by OS X guidelines.

Huh. If so, that's a *stupid* guideline, considering Apple is also
pushing the big monitors (which I am sure are at the root of demands
like this). Thanks.

But in that case, the trouble to do a script might actually be more
worth it than I thought.

Daiya

 

[CyberTaz]

Oh, I totally agree. But I like the idea of MS collecting data. And hey,
maybe there's Boxers out there we haven't heard from.


Huh. If so, that's a *stupid* guideline, considering Apple is also
pushing the big monitors (which I am sure are at the root of demands
like this). Thanks.

I'm not disagreeing, but if you think about it even on a 30" Cinema Display
the Menu starts on the LEFT, not in the middle

I've been trying to find where I got that conception, but haven't been able
to put my finger on it - I know I didn't make it up I know I've made
reference to it several times & neither Jim G nor JE have taken the
opportunity to contradict me. Perhaps it was something that came up at the
Summit - but obviously not in general discussion or I'm certain you'd recall
it as well [or at least have it contained in those impeccable notes].

But in that case, the trouble to do a script might actually be more
worth it than I thought.

I "thought" I had seen one supplied in one of the groups - I'll look for
that too.

Daiya

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

I "thought" I had seen one supplied in one of the groups - I'll look for
that too.

Most of it's here:
http://word.mvps.org/mac/Scripts/WindowSize.html

Except the "create a new document" part. Which should just be "make new
document" (well, that could be refined). I was really trying to be too
lazy to look that up.

Daiya

 

[Martin_asks/answers]

Hello Daiya,
<http://word.mvps.org/mac/Scripts/WindowSize.html>

Except the "create a new document" part. Which should just be "make new
document" (well, that could be refined). I was really trying to be too
lazy to look that up.<<

I'm totally ignorant about scripts, but maybe I can ask a friend to help me with this. I thank both you and Bob Jones for your help!

Best regards from Holland,

Martin

 

[Ross_L]

Hi,

I too would like Word to remember the placing of my documents and to open new documents in the middle of the screen, or, even better, to open the new document in the place on the screen where I left my previous document.

I would also like Word to remember the size and shape for each new document. At the moment, it not only opens on the far left, it is always long and skinny, coming too close to the bottom of the screen.

there is a mention above of this being an OS X problem, but, if so, why does I-Tunes not open on the far left?

Ross L

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

By design, Word *does* use the last active size and shape when creating
new documents. It works fine here--using Word 2008 12.0.1 under Tiger
(10.4). If Word is not remembering the size and shape under Leopard
(10.5), then it's a bug either Apple or MS will have to fix--there is
some sort of conflict somewhere, possibly related to Spaces. No clue
whether 10.5.3 or Office SP1 did anything to fix it. Report it via Help
| Send Feedback to raise the priority on it.

Position is stuck on the upper left corner, however, always has been.
Your only option for Word 2008 is to create a script that creates a new
document and automatically moves it to your preferred location, size,
shape, and use the script instead of File New Document. Review the rest
of the thread for resources on doing this.

 

[CyberTaz]

Sorry Ross, but nobody here can do anything about what you might "like" the
software to do - I'm not being sarcastic, just realistic It isn't that we
are being insensitive or don't care what you prefer - in fact some of us may
have the same preference. However, Nobody here has anything to do with the
design & development of OS X or MS applications.

If you want your opinions & preferences to be considered by those who do
have some say use Help> Send Feedback. It's provided for exactly that
purpose. The more suggestions on the same point that go into the main data
mine the more likely it will receive attention.

As to your question about iTunes, the same is true of iPhoto & a number of
other programs - but they aren't text document based applications. Launch
Text Edit or Pages & see where the window goes

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Martin_asks/answers]

Hi Daiya,

But in that case, the trouble to do a script might actually be more
worth it than I thought.

I "thought" I had seen one supplied in one of the groups - I'll look for

that too.<

My friend can't help at the moment. Did you perhaps already find it, Daiya?

Dag,

Martin

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Sorry Martin, I think the server was acting up and I just saw this.

Here is a sample script that will create a new document and set it to a
specific size and position:

tell application "Microsoft Word"
activate
make new document
set bounds of active window to {41, 56, 662, 854}
end tell

See here for what to do with a script provided by someone else:
http://word.mvps.org/mac/InstallApplescript.html

*however*, that sample script uses *my* preferred size and
position--everyone's will be different. You need to look at this link:
http://word.mvps.org/mac/Scripts/WindowSize.html
and read the Changing the Size and Position section to get the right
four numbers that *you* want to use, and substitute them into your script.

That page will also link you to instructions for assigning this to a
keyboard shortcut--I'm not sure you can intercept cmd-N, but you should
be able to find something.

Daiya