delete recent documents

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Joel - 17 Mar 2008 19:55 GMT

When I open Word it provides the option following options: New, Open, Save,
Save and more.
On the right side of that it shows recent documents. I have deleted 60% of
these files but their names continue to be in the recent document list. How
do I clear this list?
Thank you.

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Suzanne S. Barnhill - 17 Mar 2008 20:39 GMT

There is no way to delete them directly from the Getting Started task pane,
but you can delete them from the bottom of the File menu (assuming you're
using Word 2002 or 2003). Press Ctrl+Alt+Hyphen and click on one of the
filenames. Repeat as needed. Use this shortcut with care because it will
delete *any* menu item you click on. Deleting the filenames from the MRU
list on the File menu will also remove them from the task pane.

Signature

Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

> When I open Word it provides the option following options: New, Open,
> Save,
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> do I clear this list?
> Thank you.

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walker - 18 Mar 2008 14:54 GMT

When I press Ctrl+Alt the file pane disappears, before i can even press
Hyphen ?

> There is no way to delete them directly from the Getting Started task pane,
> but you can delete them from the bottom of the File menu (assuming you're
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> > do I clear this list?
> > Thank you.

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Bob Buckland ?:-) - 18 Mar 2008 15:17 GMT

Hi Walker,

If a version prior to Word 2007, while in the document, not in a menu already opened, after you press ctrl+alt+hyphen the cursor
should change to a flat horizontal bar. Then go to the 'File' menu and it will fool you by changing back to a white selection
arrow. Click once on the File menu until it opens. Now mouse down to hover over the entry you want to delete (you should see the
black bar again) and then click on the entry you want gone. *But* be careful not to click on any menu dropdown item before you
reach your destination as that black bar can erase any menu item it touches. To go back to regular typing cursor press Esc to turn
off the black bar.

============
When I press Ctrl+Alt the file pane disappears, before i can even press
Hyphen ? >>

Signature

Bob Buckland ?:-)
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

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Suzanne S. Barnhill - 18 Mar 2008 21:17 GMT

Note that it is not necessary to press ESC unless you change your mind about
deleting, since the delete capability is "used up" after one deletion, and
you have to press Ctrl+Alt+Hyphen again to delete another entry.

Signature

Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

"Bob Buckland ?:-)" <75214.226(At Beautiful Downtown)compuserve.com> wrote

> Hi Walker,
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> When I press Ctrl+Alt the file pane disappears, before i can even press
> Hyphen ? >>

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Bob Buckland ?:-) - 18 Mar 2008 04:19 GMT

Hi Joel,

The recently used file list is stored in the registry. For Word 2007 you can use the tool or procedure here to remove individual
entries from the list.
http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Recent_Files_List_Editor.htm

The keyboard shortcut tool that Suzanne mentioned for prior Word versions was, unfortunately, turned off by Microsoft for Word
2007.

=================
When I open Word it provides the option following options: New, Open, Save,
Save and more.
On the right side of that it shows recent documents. I have deleted 60% of
these files but their names continue to be in the recent document list. How
do I clear this list?
Thank you. >>

Signature

Bob Buckland ?:-)
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*

Reply to this Message