Tip: Open last edited document in Microsoft Word

Would you like a quick way to return to the last document you edited in Microsoft Word, after closing the program? You can do it with a command-line switch: /mfile1. The simplest way to use such a switch is to create a shortcut to Word which includes the switch. Here’s how:

1. Right-click in an empty spot on the desktop and select New -> Shortcut from the pop-up menu.
2. In the location box type the full path to the Microsoft Word program, surrounded by quotation marks. That path is slightly different for each version of Word. Assuming you have installed Word into the default folder, the path will be:

Word 2007:         “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office 12\winword.exe”
Word 2003:         “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\winword.exe”
Word 2002/XP:    “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\winword.exe”
Word 2000/97:    “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe”

Alternatively, you can click the browse button and hunt for winword.exe on your computer.

3.  Add a space followed by /mfile1 after the path name, for example:
   

“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe” /mfile1

4. Click Next, give your shortcut a name such as LastWord and click Finish.

If you like, drag the shortcut from your desktop onto the Quick Launch bar beside the Start button. I have both a traditional Word shortcut (opens a blank document) and my LastWord shortcut side by side, so I can use whichever I need.

Comments

[Dawn Kerswell]

This suggestion has eliminated some unnecessary messing about.
Thanks...Keep up the good work

[Learn Word Shortcuts]

Learning how to open last edited document in MS Word is so important when writing numerous drafts of research papers.

Thanks for the tip!