OFF: Cannot Change the Default Folder for Opening Files

• Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Office for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

By default, when you click the Open A Document button on the Office Shortcut Bar or the Open Office Document button on the Start menu, the dialog box that appears displays the contents of the My Documents folder. If you then open a document from another folder, the Office Shortcut Bar displays the contents of the new folder location.

MORE INFORMATION

To work around this limitation, you can use either of two methods. You can use the Add to Favorites feature on the Office Shortcut Bar to add folders or files you would like to open easily. Alternatively, if you don't need to use the My Documents folder, you can move the files you would like to open quickly to the My Documents folder, rename the folder, and move it anywhere on the computer.

NOTE: The second method works only if you use Windows Explorer on a computer running Windows 95 to move the renamed My Documents folder.

Method 1

1. To start the Office Shortcut Bar, click Programs on the Start menu, click Startup, and then click Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar.

2. Using the right mouse button, click the background of any toolbar on the Office Shortcut Bar, and then click Customize.

3. Click the Toolbars tab, select the check box next to Favorites, and then click the Buttons tab.

4. In the Toolbar list, click Favorites, and then click Add Folder.

5. Select the folder you want to appear on the Office Shortcut Bar, click Add, and click OK.

Method 2

1. Save any open documents if necessary, and exit all open Office programs.

2. Use the Windows Explorer to move or copy the files you want to access quickly to the My Documents folder.

3. Using the Windows Explorer, select the My Documents folder. Then, on the File menu, click Rename, and type a new name for the folder.

4. Using Windows Explorer, move the renamed folder to the new location.