WD2000: WindowState Property Returns 1 (Maximized ) Instead of (2) Minimized As Expected (210253)

SYMPTOMS

When you create the following Microsoft Visual Basic macro for Microsoft Word 2000

Sub newdoc()
   Application.NewWindow
   ActiveWindow.WindowState = wdWindowStateMinimize
   MsgBox ActiveWindow.WindowState
End Sub

and you then run the macro to create a new document window and report the state of the window, the message box indicates a maximized state (1) instead of the actual state of the new window. The new window is minimized, therefore the message box should report a minimized state (2).

In Word 97, the same macro reports a normal state (0).

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when you run the macro from a maximized Word document. Microsoft Windows returns focus to the last active window when you minimize another window. Because the last active window is maximized, the message box correctly returns a windows state of 1 (maximized).

Word 97 changes the active window to a normal (restored) state, therefore in Word 97, the message box returns a window state of 0 (normal).

When you run the macro from a restored Word 2000 document, the message box returns a window state of 0.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue and create a macro that returns the correct window state of the new document, follow these steps:

Start Word 2000.
Press ALT+F11 to start the Visual Basic Editor.
On the Insert menu, click Module.

In the module sheet, type the following code:

Sub newdoc()
   Set myWindow = Application.NewWindow
   myWindow.WindowState = wdWindowStateMinimize
   MsgBox myWindow.WindowState
End Sub

Press ALT+F11 to return to Word.
On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Macros.
Select newdoc, and then click Run. You create a new, minimized document, and the message box returns a windows state of 2 (minimized).

REFERENCES