I do not want a blank document to automatically open

[sherrera]

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

When I open word or excel, I do NOT want a blank page to open. I would like just the menu bar so that I can decide if I want a blank page or if I want an existing document.

Is there any way to turn this off?

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Sorry, no. But you could set the Project Gallery to open at launch (via
Preferences). Then it will offer you a menu of the different types of
blank documents, as well as a list of recent files. (I personally find
the Project Gallery extremely annoying, though)

However, if you launch Word, it opens a blank doc, then you open a
Recent file without doing anything in the blank doc, Word will
automatically close the blank doc for you. So it shouldn't really get in
your way. (I think Excel is the same way)

 

[sherrera]

That's too bad. I leave multiple applications open and the only way to get rid of that blank document is to hide the application. I don't want the project gallery OR a blank document.

It's really a nuisance to MS do so much "help."

I appreciate your reply. Thank you.

 

[Clive Huggan]

That's too bad. I leave multiple applications open and the only way to get rid
of that blank document is to hide the application. I don't want the project
gallery OR a blank document.

It's really a nuisance to MS do so much "help."

I appreciate your reply. Thank you.

I suppose you'll need to get into the habit of keying Command-w as soon as
the blank document opens. It will become automatic.

(But not for me. I use Word 2004. ;-)

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is 5-11 hours different from the Americas and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
====================================================

 

[mansky99]

If you are familiar with global templates in Word, addins in Excel, and VB
you can get rid of the blank new document, or spreadsheet, upon startup of
each application.

In Word, create a new template in Office/Startup/Word and in the AutoExec
module (that you'll have to create) put the following VB code snippet:

If (Documents.Count = 1) Then
ActiveDocument.Close(SaveChanges:=wdDoNotSaveChanges)
End If

Compile and save the global template and the next time you use Word, the
code will execute and not open, by default, a new blank document.

For Excel, create a new addin file in Office/Startup/Excel and in the "This
Workbook" object, put the following VB code snippet:

If (Workbooks.Count = 1) Then
If (Workbooks(1).Name = "Workbook1") Then
Workbooks("Workbook1").Close SaveChanges:=False
End If
End If

Compile and save the addin and the next time you use Excel the code in the
addin will execute and not open a new, blank workbook.

Ed

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Unfortunately the original poster is using Office 2008, and VBA cannot
be used in Office 2008. AppleScript has no equivalent for AutoExec.

It is possible to write a little applet that launches Word and then
closes the blank document, and to always use that to open Word instead
of the regular methods. That seems like overkill to me, but perhaps the
blank document is really that annoying.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

You know, I think you might actually be complaining about something
other than Word creating a new blank doc at launch--because as I said,
when you launch Word, if you open a doc, the blank doc will go away. And
if you did not either want to open an existing doc or start a new one,
why did you launch Word? 9 times out of 10, that blank doc isn't
annoying enough to bring you here to ask a question.

BUT, new in 2008, when you click on Word in the dock to switch to it
from another app, it creates *another* blank document if there are no
documents open. This is VERY annoying. Unfortunately, this seems to be
part of Apple's guidelines for Mac apps (several newer apps do the
same), and I don't think you can block it or undo it via code. However,
if you use cmd-tab to switch to Word instead, it won't happen.

You can request MS let you turn it off by using Help | Send Feedback in
Word or any Office app.

 

[mansky99]

Thanks Daiya, I only have Office X and Office 2004 where VBA can still be
used. Good point.

Is there any Microsoft language for scripting like VBA for Office 2008? C#
perhaps? Or is support for Applescript all you get in Office 2008.

Depending upon whether the Documents collection class, as well as the
Document object, is available to Applescript for Office 2008, then the VB
script snippets I posted can be translated into equivalent Applescript code.

Ed

 

[sherrera]

Daiya Mitchell -

Yes, I'm using Office 2008 for the Mac. Thank you! It REALLY is that annoying!

I work at the computer all day using Word, Excel, Filemaker, Safari, Quicken, Photoshop, Indesign and others continually. MS office modules are the only ones that insist I have a blank document in front of me. It's another step to have to hide the application to keep my desktop clear as well as keep my thoughts organized!

If Microsoft reads these posts, PLEASE do not insist that things get done automatically. Let me have the option to NOT use your help!

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi -

Perhaps the pill will be easier to swallow if you consider that Word has to
have "a" document open in order to be usable in any meaningful way. Most of
the capabilities are stored in templates - Styles, Preference settings,
AutoText, Page Setup specifications, etc. Without having opened a template
file (or a document based on a template) Word has access to *none* of that
information, nor can it be modified.

Additionally, for the majority of Word users the documents created are
consistently based on the same/similar specs. That isn't true of any of the
other programs you listed. In fact, most of them aren't used for creating
new documents (at least not as their overwhelmingly predominant purpose).
InDesign is the only one which is document-based, but by its very nature the
expectation is that document specs will vary (perhaps greatly) from launch
to launch. Ironically, most of the InD user's I know who *do* use the same
setups routinely have spent a great deal of time & effort expediting the
creation of new files because the program *isn't* geared to providing a new
doc on launch... One person's treasure is another's trash

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

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Did you see the part where I said clicking on Word in the dock is what
keeps creating new blank documents? So don't click on Word in the Dock.
Use cmd-Tab to switch to Word instead.

You can get rid of the new blank document at launch, but you'll have to
delve into AppleScript to do it, and it will be a bit of a hassle.

MS does NOT read these posts--you need to submit feedback to get a
message to them.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Hi Ed,

There is only AppleScript in Office 2008, but VBA will return in OfficeNext.

I already described how one would script the rough equivalent of what
you suggested.

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Ed:

Eeeewwww.... Not a good idea to advise users to do that

Not unless you are prepared to write a lengthy treatise about the
side-effects of object-oriented inheritance and context-sensitivity

Basically, you disconnect the global template and the prefs, which makes
life exciting if you have some customisations you want to use

Cheers

If you are familiar with global templates in Word, addins in Excel, and VB
you can get rid of the blank new document, or spreadsheet, upon startup of
each application.

In Word, create a new template in Office/Startup/Word and in the AutoExec
module (that you'll have to create) put the following VB code snippet:

If (Documents.Count = 1) Then
ActiveDocument.Close(SaveChanges:=wdDoNotSaveChanges)
End If

Compile and save the global template and the next time you use Word, the
code will execute and not open, by default, a new blank document.

For Excel, create a new addin file in Office/Startup/Excel and in the "This
Workbook" object, put the following VB code snippet:

If (Workbooks.Count = 1) Then
If (Workbooks(1).Name = "Workbook1") Then
Workbooks("Workbook1").Close SaveChanges:=False
End If
End If

Compile and save the addin and the next time you use Excel the code in the
addin will execute and not open a new, blank workbook.

Ed

--
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
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[Tim Murray]

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

When I open word or excel, I do NOT want a blank page to open. I would like
just the menu bar so that I can decide if I want a blank page or if I want an

existing document.

Is there any way to turn this off?

Welcome to the world of Microsoft Office products, where they do what they
think is in your best interest.

 

[Tim Murray]

Unfortunately, this seems to be
part of Apple's guidelines for Mac apps (several newer apps do the
same), and I don't think you can block it or undo it via code.

So you have any evidence of that? That it's an Apple guideline, I mean.

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Tim:

Yeah, if you pore through the Apple HUI guidelines, you will find it in
there somewhere: if you click an icon in the Dock, the application should
launch to a blank document.

However: In Word's case the truth is more prosaic: without at least one
document open, Word is not initialised, and it won't work.

In 2007 they tried to solve this complain by closing the application if you
close the last open document. That gives me the irrits: you have to wait
for it to restart each time. Admittedly, Word 2007 restarts in about 1 or 2
seconds, but it still annoys me

Cheers

So you have any evidence of that? That it's an Apple guideline, I mean.

--
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
Sydney, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

So you have any evidence of that? That it's an Apple guideline, I mean.

Sorry, I totally missed this question earlier--I'm was going off the
fact that Pages has always done the same thing (drives me crazy). iTunes
does it too. So does TextEdit. And Script Editor. Same click-in-dock
vs. cmd-tab difference in the behavior.

But, you know, "seems to be" doesn't require evidence.

Daiya

 

[Tim Murray]

But, you know, "seems to be" doesn't require evidence.

"This seems to be part of Apple's guidelines for Mac apps" is far more
....well, I can't think of the word ... it's far different than just "this
seems to be the way a lot of apps operate."

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

"This seems to be part of Apple's guidelines for Mac apps" is far more
....well, I can't think of the word ... it's far different than just "this
seems to be the way a lot of apps operate."

Really? when it's the way a lot of Apple apps operate? Is it not a
legit assumption that Apple's own apps are following Apple's guidelines
when they show consistency in a feature like that?

"positive", "strong", or "definite" might be the word you are looking for?