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General discussion

MS Word 97 in different session

Nov 6, 2005 9:17PM PST

Hi all,

I'm using MS Word 97 in both XP and Win-98 (in different computers)
When you have more than one open document, you need to go throw the Menu - Window to swap between documents.
What I want is that, when I double-click on a new document, it's opened in a new window session, so I can swap between documents via Alt + Tab (as it usually happens when using MS-2000)
Does anyone know how to get this?
note: I already know that you can do that by opening Words in a new window and then opening a new document, but this is not the soluion I'm looking for.

thanks,
Luis Fernandez. UK.

Discussion is locked

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From memory...
Nov 6, 2005 9:30PM PST

Word 2000 offers this.

Bob

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From experiment ...
Nov 7, 2005 3:13AM PST

Word 97 offers it also. In fact, it's a rather elementary feature of Windows. I'll give a step-by-step instruction because this isn't something everyday.
Note I did this on a Windows 95 computer. Details may be different with another version of the OS. But I don't expect differences so big that you can't figure it out.

1. Go to the File Types screen. I always use Windows Explorer (Tools>Folder Options), but it seems other people always find it from My Computer.
2. Page down to Microsoft Word document (.doc). Click Edit.
3. You'll see the defined actions Print, Open (bold = default = done on doubleclick) and New. I also have printto. I don't know what it does, but I've learned to keep my hands of things I don't know about.
4. Select Open, choose Edit
5. Copy the Application box (with me, it's "C:\PROGRAM FILES\OFFIC97\OFFICE\WINWORD.EXE" /n, but it will vary depending on where you installed the program.
6. Cancel to go back to the previous screen, choose New
7. Select a good name for your new action (something like Open in new window. If you want to be able to use a letter to activate it (I never do, always use the mouse in the right click menu) put an & before that letter, but take care that it is unique in the whole right click menu for Word documents. Something like Open in new &Window might work, if there's no other W being used.
8. In the application box right below, copy from the clipboard what you put on it in step 5. That's easier than browsing.
9. The trick: replace /n with "%1" (including the quotes. Don't check the Use DDE-checkbox. Choose OK (3 times to return to Explorer).
10. Now right click on a Word document. You'll see your new action listed. Try it to see it works.
11. The finishing touch. Return to the File Types screen and reselect Microsoft Word document. Then select your new action and choose Set Default. Now it's the default action if you doubleclick a Word document, but you can still choose the old one from the right click menu.

Hope this helps.


Kees

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No problemo. Wow you got 95?
Nov 7, 2005 3:37AM PST

It's been a few months now since we ejected the last Windows 98 machine. Outside of one last support crisis, it hasn't been missed.

Cheers,

Bob

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Re: 95 indeed
Nov 7, 2005 4:35AM PST

A very reliable (hardware and softwarewise) 8-year old Compaq (with 48 Mb, 2 Gb, 200 Mhz and 95) in the living room. Some Dutchman (like me) don't like to throw away things still working so well.
Sometimes, for certain things (like opening Acrobat reader and viewing pictures), it's more than a little bit slow and noisy (virtual memory rattling like you don't hear it anymore nowadays) and I can't look TV on it, but mail, Word, Excel, general browsing, Notepad for website maintenance and even MS Access for databases up to a few Mb are satisfactory. Just waiting for the final breakdown, I think.

One floor higher a custom built 98-machine (recently complete rebuilt when the mobo went south) and a rather new custom built XP (with my son as primary user for games and music).

And a rather old XP-Compaq at work.

Regards,


Kees

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Excellent stuff
Nov 7, 2005 11:39PM PST

Hi Kees,
I've followed your instructions and it worked. Now I can open my documents as I wanted.
many thanks,
Luis

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(NT) (NT) Sorry, misplaced my post. Is meant as answer to OP.
Nov 7, 2005 3:17AM PST
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(NT) (NT) Very "clever" answer !!
Nov 7, 2005 4:10PM PST