Newbie w/ a simple question

[El Cazador]

Searched the FAQ website and got nowwhere. Apparently this is so
basic that it didn't even merit a sentence.

How the heck do you delete a Word document?

"Help" is no help. Delete key? Forget it.

Second question: I've rec'd and tried to read documents that are .rtf
or .dot, etc., and can't delete them either after I've failed to bring
them up in Word. I don't care about them now (time relevant only) and
want to delete them as well.

Well? Can anybody help? Thanks so much if you can.
Kind regards,
V

 

[CyberTaz]

Sounds like you may have recently arrived from the Dark Side where you could
delete files from the Open & Save As dialogs ;=)

Mac OS X doesn't allow that - it isn't really an Office issue. In order to
delete a file navigate to the folder it's stored in and either drag the file
to the Trash *or* Command-Click it & choose Move to Trash *or* select it &
key Command+Delete.

As for your second issue, there's no reason why Word shouldn't be able to
open RTFs or DOTs. RTFs are handled the same as any other document using
File>Open, double-clicking the icon, etc. In the case of DOTs, when you go
through the File>Open dialog the template name will be dimmed out unless you
select Word Templates from the Enable list.

If you are experiencing something different you'll need to provide more
detail as to where the file are coming from, your Word & OS versions,
specifics about how you are trying to access these files & exactly what
does/does
HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac
n't happen contrary to your expectations.

 

[El Cazador]

Mac OS X doesn't allow that - it isn't really an Office issue. In order to
delete a file navigate to the folder it's stored in and either drag the file
to the Trash *or* Command-Click it & choose Move to Trash *or* select it &
key Command+Delete.

Word documents are stored in the "documents" folder. But the ideas
given don't work. Should have noted with my question that I tried to
delete it by dragging it to the trash bin and it wouldn't work. The
use of the "command-click" didn't make sense to me simply because I'm
unfamiliar with the Mac. So if you can explain it again, step by
step, so that a 6 yr. old would get it, because that is just about
what I feel like about now.
Kind regards,
V

 

[CyberTaz]

See the in-line comments below:

Word documents are stored in the "documents" folder. But the ideas
given don't work. Should have noted with my question that I tried to
delete it by dragging it to the trash bin and it wouldn't work.

What do you mean by "didn't work"? What happened when you tried? Please
reread the last paragraph of my previous reply - nobody can do much to help
you if you don't *accurately describe* what's happening. We can't see over
your shoulder Keep in mind that the document you're trying to delete
cannot be _open_ at the time.

The use of the "command-click" didn't make sense to me simply because I'm
unfamiliar with the Mac. So if you can explain it again, step by
step, so that a 6 yr. old would get it, because that is just about
what I feel like about now.

Sorry, that was my mistake - I should have written Control+Click, which
simply means to hold the Control key while you click the file. This is the
equivalent of right-clicking on the PC and produces a "shortcut"
(contextual) menu of pertinent commands.(If you have a mouse or trackball
device with 2 or more buttons you may be able to just right-click.)

Command+Delete means to hold down the Command key (marked ⌘) while you press
the Delete key. This was offered accurately, but may deviate a little if
you're not using a standard full keyboard.

However, if you can't delete the file by dragging it to the Trash it's
unlikely either of the other methods will work either - for exactly the same
reason, whatever that may be.

Kind regards,
V

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

 

[Elliott Roper]

Word documents are stored in the "documents" folder. But the ideas
given don't work. Should have noted with my question that I tried to
delete it by dragging it to the trash bin and it wouldn't work. The
use of the "command-click" didn't make sense to me simply because I'm
unfamiliar with the Mac. So if you can explain it again, step by
step, so that a 6 yr. old would get it, because that is just about
what I feel like about now.
Kind regards,

On Macintosh, only one "Application" is supposed to delete files. It is
the "Finder" Make sure the word just to the right of the blue Apple in
the top left corner is "Finder" (click anywhere on the desktop to
activate the Finder) Then place the mouse cursor over the word File
next to it. Press and hold the (left or only) mouse button and drag the
cursor downward till "New Finder Window" is highlighted. Release the
mouse button. If you are familiar with Windows Explorer, I suggest you
choose View » As Columns in a similar manner from the top (and only
menu) bar. The new window you created will probably default to
displaying your Documents folder. Navigate to the file you wish to
delete with the keyboard arrow keys. Then choose "Move to Trash" from
the FIle menu on the menu bar.

When you have moved sufficient files to the trash, you may empty the
trash from the Finder menu by choosing "Empty Trash"

Command is Mac shorthand for the key near the bottom left of your
keyboard marked with an Apple and a parallelogram with loops on the
corners. Command-click means click the mouse while holding down the
Command key.

Welcome to Macintosh. In another day or two, everything will become
clear. It really is a very intuitive and consistent user interface,
compared to some others with which you may be currently more at ease.

Me, I hardly ever touch the mouse. If I wished to delete a file called
"Condescending directions for Newbies.doc" located in a subfolder
called "Snotty smartarse posts" of my documents folder, I'd
automatically hit a few cmd-tabs till Finder was active, cmd-shift-h
doc right arrow snotty right arrow cond cmd-delete followed by
cmd-shift-delete to empty the trash. ...and a cmd-w to close the finder
window.

But then, I have a reputation to uphold.

 

[CyberTaz]

For additional info - if you are used to using Word on the PC - you may want
to review the information offered here:

http://word.mvps.org/mac/Differences.html

Being new to the Mac you may also benefit from some of the info offered on
Apple's web site. Start here:

http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/

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

 

[El Cazador]

Elliott Roper, Gracias. Working through Finder was the answer.
Simple. Now that I know the drill.
V.R.S.

 

[little_creature]

Hello all,
I would like just to note:

Keep in mind that the document you're trying to delete
cannot be _open_ at the time.

That's true on PC, but you can do that on MAC OSX, you can move/delete
your file while they are open.
To delete them on move them use the Finder as indicated above.

 

[Elliott Roper]

Hello all,
I would like just to note:
That's true on PC, but you can do that on MAC OSX, you can move/delete
your file while they are open.
To delete them on move them use the Finder as indicated above.

ah, but if you try to empty the trash after moving an open file to
trash?

 

[little_creature]

OK, now you got me It will noptice you, that it cannot empty this
file from trash. But do you empty trash each time you trash anything?
I was over 5000 items in trash one time but do not tell anybody
else

 

[Elliott Roper]

OK, now you got me It will noptice you, that it cannot empty this
file from trash. But do you empty trash each time you trash anything?
I was over 5000 items in trash one time but do not tell anybody
else

Well then, it is still safe among the other 4999 ;-)
The warning comes just before you make an irrevocable action. As it
should.

I like to empty trash before I start relying on finding good stuff in
there ;-) One does not want to be caught rummaging in dustbins while
not properly dressed!

Indeed, since some of my work is confidential, I like to use "secure
empty trash". That is *really* slow if there are thousands of files in
the trash.

 

[CyberTaz]

"Theoretically" it shouldn't be a problem as far as the OS goes - after all,
you aren't really *moving* the files, you're merely shuffling the pointers
around. There's also at least one more consideration...

My concern stems more from my understanding of how Word - in particular -
operates, requiring that its temporary file exists in the same directory as
the working copy while the file is in use. If that's true it seems to be a
logical assumption that if you separate the open file from its temp that
"bad things" could happen

I guess, to begin with, I also have trouble identifying a need to delete a
file I'm actively working in
--
Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

OK, now you got me It will noptice you, that it cannot empty this
file from trash. But do you empty trash each time you trash anything?
I was over 5000 items in trash one time but do not tell anybody
else

 

[little_creature]

My concern stems more from my understanding of how Word - in particular -

operates, requiring that its temporary file exists in the same directory as
the working copy while the file is in use. If that's true it seems to be a
logical assumption that if you separate the open file from its temp that
"bad things" could happen

Yep,that's true, but generally said, you can move them. It was
empahsized sometimes as differnt PC-Mac behaviour in marketings
presentation. Ok I confess even if I know this is not the best thing
to adopt I actually did it. Because I'm laizy and I keep my document
backuped. Ok I will not learn public such bad things, won't I? But It
true I haven't confess that to my Linux friends.

I guess, to begin with, I also have trouble identifying a need to delete a
file I'm actively working in

Files you use just as scratchbook - if you need to make a note of URL
or anything and you are aware of the power supply which can go every
now and then, so I often save the file to the desktop, which I like to
keep clean (just tmp files on there) then later on I trash it - file
still open and if everthing goes well file is not occuping my desktop
next day, if power supply goes out you still have your notes in trash.

I got used to have a box under my table for used papers - first I
recycle the paper, second if I found any time I discarded wrong paper
I still can have it rather than going to the garbage can