WD98: Changing the Default Folder (183996)

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NOTE: Word will select the folder based on settings found in the Documents section of the General Controls control panel. This control panel allows you to set one of the following options:

• Folder that is set by the application.
  
  If you select this option, Word uses the folder you selected on the File Locations tab in the Preferences dialog box.
• Last folder used in the application.
  
  If you select this option, the setting you specified on the File Locations tab in the Preferences dialog box is ignored.
• Documents folder.
  
  If you select this option, the setting you specified on the File Locations tab in the Preferences dialog box is ignored.

Method 1: To manually change the default folder

Use the following steps to manually change the default folder:

1. On the Tools menu, click Preferences.
2. Click the File Locations tab.
3. Under File Types, select Documents, and then click Modify.
4. Change to the desired location.

Method 2: Using a macro to change your default directory

NOTE: When you exit Word after you have modified or added these changes, you may be prompted to save the changes to the Normal template. Click Yes to save your changes.

Use the following example Visual Basic for Applications macro to change the default document folder:

   Sub SetDefaultFolder()
      ' Set the default folder.
      ' Note: Substitute any existing path and folder.
      Options.DefaultFilePath(Path:=wdDocumentsPath) = "Mac HD:My Docs:"
   End Sub
				

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: