File, Exit performs File, Close instead

[wfooshee]

Using Excel XP, performing a File, Exit results in a File, Close being done, Excel remains open. If more than one file was open, only the current file at the time gets closed. Alt-F4 or the Big Red X behave the same.

Word on the same machine does not do this, File, Exit behaves correctly.

Another machine on the network is the same, but backwards: Excel behaves correctly but Word won't exit until all files are closed.

Is there a hidden or non-obvious setting somewhere I need to correct?

 

[tf1]

It's a long time since I used Office XP, but IIRC (and that's only a slim possibility) under Tools, OPtions, there's a setting something like 'Windows in Taskbar' which controls that action.


Regards: tf1

 

[SkipVought]

Hi,

File > Exit does close that instance of Excel, along with any workbooks open in that instance.

However, if there is more than one instance of Excel open, ALL other instances will remain open.

Skip,
[sub]
Have you heard that the roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was...
Sir Cumference![/sub]

 

[wfooshee]

File > Exit does close that instance of Excel, along with any workbooks open in that instance."

Yeah, see, that's the problem. It doesn't. I can have a single file open in a single instance of Excel, and File, Exit (or Alt-F4, or Big Red X) only closes the file, leaving Excel open at a blank Window. This is the only machine with this behavior, and on this machine Word behaves correctly, although we have another machine where Word exhibits this behavior, but Excel does not.

 

[wfooshee]

Forgot to add that the "Windows in Taskbar" isn't it, either. That controls whether multipple open files get their own button on the taskbar, but it didn't change the Alt-F4 behavior.

I've seen Google hits for this adjustment in Office 2007, but the option referenced doesn't exist in Office XP. Apparently a registry setting does, though. Wonder what it might be. . . . .

 

[tf1]

I thought that the option to control whether the open documents/workbooks get their own button in the Taskbar was a setting under Taskbar Properties (Group Similar Taskbar Buttons), not Windows in Taskbar from Tools, Options.


Regards: tf1

 

[wfooshee]

With it checked, you see a single button with all open files available, like a group. With it unchecked, all you see is a button for the current file, and no other buttons. Just a single Excel button. I mis-stated previously, because I made an assumption. We all know what assume means. . .

 

[tf1]

Assume... I know what you mean!

However, I have now remembered that Office XP is when the interface was changed: SDI/MDI (single/multiple document interface) which caused loads of controversy.

IIRC (and that is getting harder these days) Excel could be toggled between SDI/MDI modes but Word couldn't. It needed an add-in. A quick search on Google brings up many hundreds of hits regarding SDI/MDI in Office XP.


Regards: tf1

 

[wfooshee]

Yeah, but SDI/MDI changes work. Checking that box changes the behavior at the Taskbar as it should.

What doesn't work is File, Exit, or ALT-F4, or the Big Red X. All it does is close the file, even if it's just a single file. It should close all files, and the application, asking to save files with changes which haven't been saved.

 

[tf1]

Start WOrd in Safe Mode and test File Close again. From Start, Run, type in

winword /a

and press enter. Open a file now, press Exit and see if it all closes now.


Regards: tf1

 

[wfooshee]

/a made no change. I'm starting to think this is an "accept it and move on" kind of thing.

Gee, that never happened before. . . . .