Hi Brenda

Try something like this:

Dim oDoc as Word.Document

   Set oDoc = Documents.Open _
       (FileName:="plaintextfile.txt", _
       Format:=wdOpenFormatText )

   'you can now do stuff with the oDoc object, eg...
   msgbox oDoc.name

Look up VBA Help under Open to get specific information about the Format
parameter.

By the way, the macro recorder does quite a good job of pointing you to the
objects, methods and properties you need. But you often need to clean up
after it. For info on that, see
How to Modify a Recorded Macro
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/MacrosVBA/ModifyRecordedMacro.htm

Hope this helps.

Shauna Kelly.  Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word