Word 2007 Closes Completely When a Document is Closed

[Distribution Man]

In previous editions of MS Word, the software would remain open, and could be
downsized to the toolbar, if a user elected to close an MS Word document that
was currently open. In Word 2007, the software closes down completely when a
document is closed. There appears to be no way to close the document but
leave the software running. Furthermore, if one MS Word document is already
open and you open a second MS Word document, two separate icons appear on the
toolbar at the bottom of the monitor. Is the experience noted above "normal"
for Word 2007? I could live with the "total closing" of the software if MS
Word would open properly each time that I attempt to do so. Unfortunately,
50% of the time that I try to open MS Word 2007, it fails. I get an error
message saying that the software must shut down and Microsoft is "sorry" for
the inconvenience. Is there a way to configure MS Word 2007 running on a
VISTA Ultimate OS so that a document can be closed but the MS Word software
will remain open?
NOTE: MS Excel 2007 allows a user to close the only open spreadsheet but
leave the MS Excel 2007 open. Why can't MS Word do the same?

 

[Stefan Blom]

If you want to close the last open document without exiting the application,
you can use Ctrl+F4 instead of clicking the X in the upper right corner.

For assistance with the crashes, see
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProblemsStartingWord.htm.

 

[JoanO]

There is also a "close" choice under the Office Icon in the top left corner.
At the same place that shows the New, Open, and Save options. I have used
it and it did not shut the application down.

 

[grammatim]

Also good ol' Ctrl-W.

There is also a "close" choice under the Office Icon in the top left corner.  
At the same place that shows the New, Open, and Save options.  I have used
it and it did not shut the application down.