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On my Dad's computer (I'm giving him some lessons), when he opens multiple
Word documents they each open as windows within a single instance of Word,
whereas on mine each opens in its own discrete Word window, which might use
more resources but I find easier to manage. I think he's using Word 97, I've
got 2003. Is there a way to make his behave like mine? Other than literally
opening a generic Word window each time and going Open>etc. I'd like him to
be able to just double-click on the icons for each doc & have them open in
their own instance of Word.

Karl Engel wrote:
> On my Dad's computer (I'm giving him some lessons), when he opens
> multiple Word documents they each open as windows within a single
> instance of Word,

That sounds right to me.

> whereas on mine each opens in its own discrete Word
> window, which might use more resources but I find easier to manage.

That doesn't sound right to me; nor should it be easier to manage. One
should be able to transition between multiple Word docs just fine while
working within a single instance of the Word app.

You haven't discussed the hardware and software resources of each
computer except for mentioning Word97 & Word2003. What about the OS of
each computer, what about the cpu and ram?

The most likely thing is that your Dad's computer is doing it just fine
and if your computer isn't doing it like that then something is 'wrong'
with your configuration and you should fix yours, not his.

> I'd like him to be able to just
> double-click on the icons for each doc & have them open in their own
> instance of Word.

Well then maybe you shouldn't be the teacher giving lessons.

--
Mike Easter

Karl Engel wrote:

> On my Dad's computer (I'm giving him some lessons), when he opens
> multiple Word documents they each open as windows within a single
> instance of Word, whereas on mine each opens in its own discrete Word
> window, which might use more resources but I find easier to manage. I
> think he's using Word 97, I've got 2003.

You are describing the default behavior for Word 97 and 2003.

97 is SDI. Single Document Interface
2003 is MDI. Multiple Document Interface

> Is there a way to make his behave like mine?

I would think you would prefer SDI. I certainly do. Like tabs in my
browser window, instead of a whole mess of separate browser windows.
(You are using a modern tabbed browser, aren't you? Firefox.. Opera..)

When I used to use Microsoft products, I had Word (Office) 97. My place
of work used something newer (2000, I think - I'm retired now). I hated
having to have multiple windows open all taking space on the taskbar.

> Other than literally opening a generic Word window each time and going
> Open>etc. I'd like him to be able to just double-click on the icons
> for each doc & have them open in their own instance of Word.

Nope. 'Tis the nature of the beast.

--
-bts
-Motorcycles defy gravity; cars just suck

There is a setting in word 97 in the options menu to change that, you will
have to search for it because I don't remember but I know it can be done.

--

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"Karl Engel" <> wrote in message
news:475c9be5$0$25552$...
>
>
> On my Dad's computer (I'm giving him some lessons), when he opens multiple
> Word documents they each open as windows within a single instance of Word,
> whereas on mine each opens in its own discrete Word window, which might
> use more resources but I find easier to manage. I think he's using Word
> 97, I've got 2003. Is there a way to make his behave like mine? Other than
> literally opening a generic Word window each time and going Open>etc. I'd
> like him to be able to just double-click on the icons for each doc & have
> them open in their own instance of Word.
>

[Matusko]

Originally Posted by Mike Easter

Karl Engel wrote:
> On my Dad's computer (I'm giving him some lessons), when he opens
> multiple Word documents they each open as windows within a single
> instance of Word,

That sounds right to me.

> whereas on mine each opens in its own discrete Word
> window, which might use more resources but I find easier to manage.

That doesn't sound right to me; nor should it be easier to manage. One
should be able to transition between multiple Word docs just fine while
working within a single instance of the Word app.

You haven't discussed the hardware and software resources of each
computer except for mentioning Word97 & Word2003. What about the OS of
each computer, what about the cpu and ram?

The most likely thing is that your Dad's computer is doing it just fine
and if your computer isn't doing it like that then something is 'wrong'
with your configuration and you should fix yours, not his.

> I'd like him to be able to just
> double-click on the icons for each doc & have them open in their own
> instance of Word.

Well then maybe you shouldn't be the teacher giving lessons.

--
Mike Easter

Mike - Not everyone is a guru like yourself or works like you do or thinks logically like you do, and certainly not everyone easily adapts to Microsoft's changes. There is a world of people with older computers. Lots of people love consistency and get use to the way Microsoft behaves on legacy systems. If there is a way to make things work the old way - all the power to them. Don't blast their intelligence just because Microsoft changed something.

[billrowe]

I had a problem with Word 2003 opening two instances for one document. One instance had the document, the other was blank.

When I tried to close the blank one, Word went into a long, if not infinite, loop and I had to reboot.

I was able to fix this and get one instance with one document by going to toolsptions:view and uncheck "Windows In Taskbar". This was somewhat counter-intuitive, but it worked for me.