New document every time

[bsteele]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

Every time I activate Word -- not just starting it up, every time I click on its icon in the dock -- it opens a new blank document. A wonderful convenience I don't need. How do I get it to not do that?

Perhaps this is an Office 2008 question, since Powerpoint and Excel do the same thing.

 

[CyberTaz]

No, it's actually an OS X question

And if you monitor it more closely you'll find that it isn't *every* time -
it's only when the program has no document open. The behavior is expected in
OS X for document-centric applications. To avoid it don't click the Dock
icon if the program is already running. Use Command+Tab to bring the app
back to the foreground... Or leave a document open all the time

It's a controversial topic so I won't get into the "whys & wherefores", but
if you're not pleased by MS's compliance with the Apple guideline use Help>
Send Feedback from any Office app to voice your opinion. Perhaps it will be
changed in a future release if possible.

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

 

[bsteele]

Really? Apple Mail doesn't open a new message every time you switch to it. Filemaker doesn't open a new database. Photoshop doesn't open a new blank image. Firefox opens a new browser window, but that's what you want.

I switch to Word 50 or so times a day, and 48 or so of those are to resume working on one of several previous documents. But no, I have to wait while it opens a window I don't want, then close it. Or, as you suggest, type CMD-TAB four to six times, then switch from the keyboard to the mouse to get to Open recent. Thanks a heap for the "helpful" feature.

 

[ahostmadsen]

I agree that's it irritating. But as CyberTaz says, it's an Apple standard. Apple's own iWork programs has the same irritating "feature." The best would be if Word opened a new document, but closed it as soon as you open another document -- that's how Word used to work in Windows.

 

[CyberTaz]

The programs you mentioned are *not* document-centric - IOW, you don't have
to have a document open in order to use the software... You may want to just
read or organize your email messages, the typical launching of FMP is *not*
to create a new database, nor do you typically create pictures in Photoshop.

As for having to Cmd+Tab multiple times, No you don't have to do so. Once
you Cmd+Tab just keep the Cmd key held down & click the icon for the program
you want to bring to the front.

Too bad if you don't like the answers, but I have nothing to do with the
design of the software *or* OS X, so don't shoot the messenger. You came
looking for answers, those you received were honest & accurate, so "thanks a
heap" for the gratitude.

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

 

[Phillip Jones, C.E.T.]

Another method you could use is the unhide all in the applications menu.

or rather than clicking in the dock and releasing just click and hold
until a menu comes up and click on *show*

The programs you mentioned are *not* document-centric - IOW, you don't have
to have a document open in order to use the software... You may want to just
read or organize your email messages, the typical launching of FMP is *not*
to create a new database, nor do you typically create pictures in Photoshop.

As for having to Cmd+Tab multiple times, No you don't have to do so. Once
you Cmd+Tab just keep the Cmd key held down & click the icon for the program
you want to bring to the front.

Too bad if you don't like the answers, but I have nothing to do with the
design of the software *or* OS X, so don't shoot the messenger. You came
looking for answers, those you received were honest & accurate, so "thanks a
heap" for the gratitude.

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

--
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Phillip M. Jones, CET mailto[email protected]
If it's "fixed", don't "break it"! http://www.vpea.org
http://www.kimbanet.com/~pjones/default.htm
G4-500 Mac 1.5 GB RAM OSX.3.9 G4-1.67 GB PowerBook 17" 2GB RAM OSX.4.11
------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[bsteele]

Sorry, my "Thanks a heap" was directed at Microsoft in general, not you.

It's a pretty big assumption they're making that a word processor user wants a new document every time. Not everybody is writing business letters. It's an even larger assumption with a spreadsheet.

I've taken your advice and submitted a suggestion via Send feedback.

Meanwhile, I've discovered that an Applescript

tell application "Microsoft Word"
activate
end tell

makes Word active without opening the window. Now if I could get it to display recent files I'd have it made.

 

[CyberTaz]

Not a problem, but anything directed at MS via the public groups is most
likely missing the target by one or more continents

Perhaps "not everybody", but most likely well over 50%. However, that isn't
the real point and I doubt it will ever change. Besides, the "Dock click"
behavior is defined by Apple - apps developers simply comply with the
guidelines set forth by Apple for OS X.

As for displaying the recent files: Use the Project Gallery settings to Show
on Start Up & Open On: Recent. That will only occur on Launch, but you may
be able to manipulate that with Script as well. (I assume your also aware of
the File> Open Recent menu command but just want the list to appear
automatically.)

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

 

[bsteele]

OK, for those who might find it useful, this script switches to Word and opens the Project Gallery:

tell application "Microsoft Word"
activate
end tell
tell application "System Events"
keystroke "P" using command down & shift down
end tell

Save as an application and put it in the dock next to Word.

In Project Gallery setting you can tell it to open on recent files. Unfortunately that takes some time, depending on how many recent files you tell it to remember, so I have both that and a simple activation script in the dock.

 

[CyberTaz]

Thanks for sharing the information. I'm sure many will find it useful

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