Scripting default file locations for Office XP?

[Dan Clemente]

We are currently manually changing the default file
locations for all Office XP apps once the user profiles
are created on new systems. It would be nice to run a
script which could change the file locations automatically
for World, Excel and PPT. The location is simply changing
from Docs and Settings\User\My Docs to Docs and
Settings\User\My Docs\Word etc. How would I create this
script, there don't seem to be Reg entries for default
file locations for the Office Apps under Options? What
would I use for the user folder under Docs and Settings,
can I use a variable to reflect whoever the current user
is?

 

[Kelly]

Hi Dan,

Start here:

In Explorer right click on "My Documents", and select "Properties", then in
the target box enter your new location.

Another option is TweakUI - XP Powertoys
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

Change the Default Location of the My Documents Folder
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_mydocs.htm

How to Move Shell Folders and Contents
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_shell_folders.htm

Cannot Move or Rename the Documents and Settings Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=236621

Registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFol
derPaths
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\[office version]\Word\Data

 

[Keith Miller]

You're talking about file locations within the Office apps, right? Such as what folder Word first
opens when you click file->open, right?

with Office 2000, they're in the registry here:
Word: "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Word\Options\DOC-PATH"

Excel: "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Excel\Options\DefaultPath"

I'm guessing with office XP the version# will be higher, but check your registry for similar values.

As for the scripting portion, the USERPROFILE environmental variable will give you the first part of
the path you want. Not sure how to access those in scripts, but someone in a scripting group will.

Keith