A new instance of Word appears to run when you create or open an additional document in Word 2000, Word 2002 and Word 2003 (291313)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Word 2003
  • Microsoft Word 2002
  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q291313

SYMPTOMS

When you create or open an additional document, another instance of Word appears to run.

Note In earlier versions of Microsoft Word, when multiple documents are opened, only one Word button appears on the Windows taskbar. However, starting in Microsoft Word 2000, when multiple documents are opened, a separate button appears for each on the Windows taskbar.

CAUSE

By default, versions of Word that are later than Microsoft Word 97 use the Single Document Interface (SDI) design, in which each document occupies its own window (just as in Microsoft Outlook each message occupies its own window). This behavior is different from Word 97 and earlier, which use the Multiple Document Interface (MDI), in which each document is a separate window within the Word program window. SDI was introduced in Word 2000.

In the Single Document Interface, only one instance of the Word program (Winword.exe) is running. To confirm this, do either of the following to display the Windows task list:
  • In Microsoft Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.

    -or-
  • In Microsoft Windows 2000 and in Microsoft Windows XP, either press CTRL+ALT+DELETE or right-click an empty area of the Windows taskbar and then click Task Manager.
Note In Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and Microsoft Windows 2000, when you display the task list, you see every instance of an open document as a separate task on the Applications tab. However, when you click the Processes tab, you see one instance of Winword.exe running.

In Microsoft Windows 98, and Microsoft Windows Me, when you press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, the Close Program dialog box shows only one instance of Microsoft Word.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Windows XP, there is an option called Group similar taskbar buttons (right-click the Windows taskbar, and then click Properties). With this option selected (default), you can group multiple buttons into one button. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

281629 Description of the "Group similar taskbar buttons" option

You can start a second instance of Microsoft Word when you are using a command-line switch. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

210565 How to use startup command line switches to start Word 2003, Word 2002, and Word 2000



Because Word 2000 uses true SDI technology and no longer supports MDI, SDI cannot be turned off in Word 2000. Other Microsoft Office 2000 applications, such as Microsoft Excel 2000, can support MDI. Therefore, SDI can be turned off in those applications.

The ability to turn off SDI was added to Word in versions of Microsoft Office that are later than Office 2000. MDI is now supported in Word and in the other Office applications. This functionality is controlled by the Windows in Taskbar option.

To turn SDI on or off, follow these steps:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. Click the View tab.
  3. Click to clear the Windows in Taskbar check box.
  4. Click OK.

Benefits of SDI

The Single Document Interface provides the following benefits:

Improved navigation

Some users found the Window menu in earlier versions of Word to be counter-intuitive. Documents became "lost" behind other open documents, and document window management was confusing to use. Having each document in a separate window with a Microsoft Windows taskbar icon for each document makes navigation easier.

Improved performance with WordMail

Single Document Interface makes it easier and more convenient to send messages directly from Word. For additional information about Single Document Interface and Word 2000, Word 2002 and Word 2003, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

220288 A full-screen view window changes to a non-full-screen view window if you arrange all windows in Word 2000, Word 2002, and Word 2003

199666 Windows NT Task Manager shows all SDI documents

209709 Windows.Count returns the value 1 in Word 2003, Word 2002, and Word 2000

211385 Find and Replace won't use buttons on Formatting toolbar in Word

224717 A document opens in a new window when you click a hyperlink in Word 2003, Word 2002, or Word 2000

238392 Custom toolbar disappears after mail merge

232465 Converting macros from Microsoft Word 97 to Microsoft Word 2000

827889 Several features that affect macros have been changed from Word 2000 to Word 2003

827890 Several features that affect macros have been changed from Word 97 to Word 2003

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:3/23/2006
Keywords:kbtshoot kbnofix kbprb KB291313
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