Word 2003 opens new docs at left side of screen only

I use the left side of my screen for Outlook so that I can easily see new emails that have arrived. When I open Word for the first time it does open where I want it ie towards the right side but when I then open an existing document or another new document it always opens it on the left in a separate instance of Word and I have to drag it to the right. I'm sure that it didn't always do that.

Excel acts properly, it's just Word. Is there any way to stop Word opening a new instance of the program each time or any other way to fix this please?

 

Does Word 2003 have the "Windows in Taskbar" option (under Tools > Options > View) to uncheck?

 

Yes and I did that after I posted but I do actually want the windows in the taskbar to save having to click Window in the menubar.

I'm sure that this is a recent problem.

 

Looks like your file association has got messed up. Have a look in Explorer - Tools/Folder Options/File Types for "Microsoft Word Document" and select "advanced/open/edit ".

You should have DDE settings similar to this - if not, set up the entries accordingly.

 

Everything is as you indicate except the first entry is '&Open' instead of 'Open'

Is it ok to change it? It's Office Word 2003, part of Office 2003 basic edition.

 

I'd change it - if it does no good, you can always change it back. It's interesting though, that "&open" is the way the option is actually stored in the registry.....

 

Changing it didn't help so I've changed it back. Would the /n switch have anything to do with this?


"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\WINWORD.EXE" /n /dde %1

 

You could write AutoOpen and AutoNew macros to position the Window where you want. For example...

Code:

Sub AutoOpen()
    ActiveWindow.Caption = ActiveDocument.FullName
    With ActiveWindow
        .Width = 600
        .Height = 600
    End With
    With ActiveWindow
        .Left = 170
        .Top = 0
    End With
End Sub

 

Thanks but I really want tofind the proper solution as I'm sure that something is causing this malfunction.

 

I only have Word 2002 but that defaults to opening subsequent documents top/left too. Don't know if this is by design.