word annoyance

[Keith G Hicks]

I'm running word 03 on win2kpro but this has been somethign I've experienced
in all teh recent versions and I think it also does this on XP.

Open windows explorer to a folder where you have several word docs. Open one
of them up. Click back to the folder and open another doc up. Now minimize
both word docs and go back to explorer. Open a 3rd doc up. Minimize the 3rd
doc so you can see the explorer again so that you can open others if needed.

The problem is that Word always. maximizes one of the other docs when you
open another so that when you minimize the most recent one you opened you
have to minimize 2 of them to get back to explorer.

I know there are other ways to get to explorer and it's not all that hard to
minimize 2 docs but this is a VERY ANNOYING behavior when you work with many
word docs all day long. Does anyone know why this happens and if there is an
actual solition (not just a way to work around it)???

Keith

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Can't you get back to Explorer just by clicking its Taskbar button?

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Keith G Hicks]

Of course. But it's still annoying. I can use CTRL+TAB also. The problem is
that when I open a doc, my hand is already making the motion after
minimizing that doc to go back to the same list of files in explorer and I
have to reverse my montions to get to the task bar or to minimize the other
doc. Like I said, it doesn't make things impossible it's just plain
annoying. I really see no logical reason as to why word maximizes one of the
other docs. It's dumb.

Keith

Can't you get back to Explorer just by clicking its Taskbar button?

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Keith,

Using Word 2003 on Windows 2000 the behavior I'm seeing is a bit different. If I click back from any document to the Explorer icon
on the task bar it goes directly there. If I open the 3rd Word document then minimize it it takes me back to the Explorer window as
that was the last window I uses. If, on the other hand, I switch between documents via either the task bar icons then minimize a
document the 'window' I go back to is the just visited document.

FWIW, it's not Word doing the resizing, it's Windows. If you right click on any of the open documents that are 'hidden' on the
screen you'll note that the choices are 'restore' or 'maximize'. Clicking on a document in the task bar usually restores it to the
last usable size.

=====================
Of course. But it's still annoying. I can use CTRL+TAB also. The problem is
that when I open a doc, my hand is already making the motion after
minimizing that doc to go back to the same list of files in explorer and I have to reverse my montions to get to the task bar or to
minimize the other doc. Like I said, it doesn't make things impossible it's just plain annoying. I really see no logical reason as
to why word maximizes one of the other docs. It's dumb.

Keith >>
--

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

 

[Bill Hicks]

My $.02 about word taking over...

I use my right hand on my mouse. When I have my left hand on the keyboard,
Alt-Tab is a super-easy way to switch between two programs. If I'm opening
several word docs, one at a time, I Alt-Tab to explorer, double-click on a
word doc, review the doc, and then either close it or (best case scenario)
Alt-tab back to explorer to get the next doc. Only problem is, the more
word docs I have open the more Alt-Tabbing I have to do to get to the
explorer, even though explorer is the previous application on top. I find
this behavior incredibly annoying. Unlike almost EVERY other application
out there, Word puts all the open docs on top no matter what. How
presumptuous!

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi Bill,

FWIW, the Alt-Tab sequence is a little more complex than it appears (and it's largely controlled by Windows (although the 'Windows
in Taskbar setting in Word's options does change how many Word choices you would have in Alt+Tab).

If, for example, you minimize an open Word document and click into another one then the minimized item should drop to the
bottom/end of the Alt+Tab list.

Try the Alt+Esc (and Alt+shft+Esc) as another way to cycle through Windows.

MS also has a Windows XP Powertoy that provides a replacement Alt+Tab sequencer that sort of combines the Alt+Tab and Alt+Esc
features.

There are also a number of 3rd party utilities to enhance the capability, such as the 'Alt+Tab Thingy' <g>
http://www.nymtec.com/?q=att

===========
My $.02 about word taking over...

I use my right hand on my mouse. When I have my left hand on the keyboard,
Alt-Tab is a super-easy way to switch between two programs. If I'm opening
several word docs, one at a time, I Alt-Tab to explorer, double-click on a
word doc, review the doc, and then either close it or (best case scenario)
Alt-tab back to explorer to get the next doc. Only problem is, the more
word docs I have open the more Alt-Tabbing I have to do to get to the
explorer, even though explorer is the previous application on top. I find
this behavior incredibly annoying. Unlike almost EVERY other application
out there, Word puts all the open docs on top no matter what. How
presumptuous! >>
--

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*