Opening a document leaves empty startup document open as well

When I start Word or Excel, it has an empty startup doucment open (as it
should), called "Document1" or "Book1". But when I then click "Open" and open
an existing document, I want the empty document to close automatically. The
thing I open should replace the startup document. Same story when I click
"New..." and start a document from a template.

On one of my computers this works correctly, but on another one the empty
"Document 1" or "Book1" stays open as well. How can I set this option right?

I find that Word keeps the "empty" document only when it thinks it's not
empty.

I can't suggest anything for Excel, but for Word on the problem computer,
what happens if you start Word using the /a switch? Does it work properly
now? If so, then, I would try renaming normal.dot (or normal.dotm if it's
Word 2007) to see if this "cures" the problem.

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com


"Bas" <Bas@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3890D650-CC9F-4EA2-BD97-8CB3F0DFC3AC@microsoft.com...
> When I start Word or Excel, it has an empty startup doucment open (as it
> should), called "Document1" or "Book1". But when I then click "Open" and
> open
> an existing document, I want the empty document to close automatically.
> The
> thing I open should replace the startup document. Same story when I click
> "New..." and start a document from a template.
>
> On one of my computers this works correctly, but on another one the empty
> "Document 1" or "Book1" stays open as well. How can I set this option
> right?

Starting with the /a switch (I assume this is done by typing "winword /a" in
the Run box) doesn't help.

Any other way to make Office realize the document is empty?

"Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote:

> I find that Word keeps the "empty" document only when it thinks it's not
> empty.
>
> I can't suggest anything for Excel, but for Word on the problem computer,
> what happens if you start Word using the /a switch? Does it work properly
> now? If so, then, I would try renaming normal.dot (or normal.dotm if it's
> Word 2007) to see if this "cures" the problem.
>
> --
> Herb Tyson MS MVP
> Author of the Word 2007 Bible
> Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
> Web: http://www.herbtyson.com
>
>
> "Bas" <Bas@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:3890D650-CC9F-4EA2-BD97-8CB3F0DFC3AC@microsoft.com...
> > When I start Word or Excel, it has an empty startup doucment open (as it
> > should), called "Document1" or "Book1". But when I then click "Open" and
> > open
> > an existing document, I want the empty document to close automatically.
> > The
> > thing I open should replace the startup document. Same story when I click
> > "New..." and start a document from a template.
> >
> > On one of my computers this works correctly, but on another one the empty
> > "Document 1" or "Book1" stays open as well. How can I set this option
> > right?
>
>