WD: Cannot Change Working Directory Using Icon Properties

ID: Q108406

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you start Word for Windows, the default directory may not be the one you set as the Working Directory in the Program Item Properties dialog box for the icon you use to start Word for Windows.

Word versions 7.0, 97

In Word for Windows95, version 7.0 you cannot change the default document location to blank. You can, however, create a macro that, when run from the shortcut bar or desktop shortcut, will achieve the same results using the following instructions:

  1. In Word 97, on the Tools menu, point to Macro, and click Record New Macro. In Word 7.0 on the Tools menu, click Macro. Type a name for the new macro, (click record in Word 7.0).


  2. Click OK in the Record Macro dialog box.


  3. On the File menu, click New. Click the Blank Document icon, and click OK.


  4. On the Tools menu, click Options. Click the File Locations tab, and change the document path to the desired path, and click Close.


  5. Click the Stop button on the Macro record toolbar.


  6. Create a shortcut on the desktop or add a new menu entry on the Start Bar.


  7. In the command line of the shortcut, add /m<macroname> where <macroname> is the name of the macro you just created in step 1 above.

    Example
    C:\Msoffice\Winword\Winword.exe /mdoculocation
    where doculocation is the name of the macro.


NOTE: If this method is used, you will need to create a macro and shortcut for each of the different startup locations. If Word is started from the Office Shortcut toolbar, or from the Start menu, the File Locations tab will reflect the location that the macro above has set it. In addition, Word will start with document2 instead of document1. This is done because Word must have a document open to execute the macro at startup. If the FileNew command is not in the macro, you will receive a "Wordbasic error=509" The ToolsOptionsFileLocations command is not available because a document window is not active.

Word 6.x

If there is a DOC-PATH setting in the [Microsoft Word] section of your Winword6.ini file, this setting overrides the Working Directory setting. If there is no DOC-PATH setting, Word uses the Working Directory setting as the default directory.

If you want to control the default directory using different Program Manager icons to start Word, delete the DOC-PATH setting from your WINWORD6.INI file using the following instructions:

  1. From the Tools menu, choose Options.


  2. Select the File Locations tab.


  3. In the File Type list, select Documents and choose the Modify button.


  4. Clear the Location Of Documents box and then choose OK.


  5. In the Options dialog box, choose the Close button.



REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, Chapter 21, "Opening, Saving, and Protecting Documents," "Changing the Default Directory" section

Additional query words: 6.0 winword word6 word7 word95 8.0 word8 word97

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:5.0,6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a,97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: October 13, 1999
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