Office: Changing the Working Directory for an Office Program

Last reviewed: September 9, 1996
Article ID: Q110731
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Office for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.2 --------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY

To start an application in Microsoft Office, you can double-click an icon in the appropriate Program Manager group, or you can click a tool on the Microsoft Office Manager (MOM) toolbar.

Because each icon or tool may have its own working directory, and because these settings are independent, it is important to change the working directory in both places. Otherwise, you will end up with different working directories for the same application, depending on whether you start a program from the MOM toolbar or from the Program Manager icon.

NOTE: Some applications (such as Word 6.0 and Microsoft Excel 5.0) have a setting in their respective *.INI files that will override the working directory settings in both MOM and Program Manager.

MORE INFORMATION

To change the working directory for a Program Manager icon:

  1. Click the icon to select it.

  2. From the File menu, choose Properties.

  3. In the Working Directory box, type the path for your working directory.

  4. Click OK to save the changes.

When you run the program by clicking the icon, the working directory will be the directory you designated in the Properties dialog box.

To change the working directory for a tool on the MOM toolbar, do the following:

  1. From the MOM toolbar, select the tool for Office Manager (usually the farthest to the right).

  2. Choose the Customize command.

  3. From either the Menu tab or the Toolbar tab, select the application in which you want to change the working directory.

  4. Choose the Edit button.

  5. In the Working Directory box, type the working directory.

  6. Choose OK to accept changes.

  7. Choose OK to quit.

When you run the program by clicking this tool or selecting its menu item, the working directory will be the directory you designated in MOM (except for the applications noted in the SUMMARY section).


KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 4.00 4.20 winppt macppt



THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: September 9, 1996
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.