Word: Work Menu
Published on 25th October 2004
This Hot Tip looks at ways of quickly returning to existing documents in Word instead of having to go the long way through the Open command.
You probably already use the recently used file list, at the bottom of the File menu*, and if you are using the more recent versions of Microsoft Office you may take advantage of similar lists in the New Document (XP) or Getting Started (2003) task panes.
* You can increase the number of files in the recently used list, by giving the command Tools - Options - General and setting the number of entries.
However, these lists only show the latest work you've been doing and, if, for example, you write lots of letters, work quickly moves off the bottom.
The Work menu is a fixed list of documents, and you can add or remove entries whenever you wish. This way you can add a link to and quickly access the documents you work with regularly.
You have to customize your Word menus to get the Work menu, as follows:
- In Word, give the command Tools - Customize.
- The Customize dialog box appears. Click the Commands tab.
- Scroll down list of Categories (on the left) and click Built-in Menus
- The right-hand list should now show a list of menus such as File, Edit and View.
- Scroll down the right-hand list to find Work.
- From this right-hand list, drag Work onto the menu bar (next to Help perhaps).
- The Work menu is now added. Close the Customize dialog box.
To add a required document to the Work list:
- Open the required document in the normal way.
- Use the Work menu to give the command Work - Add to Work Menu.
The location of the document is recorded on the menu so that you can return to it anytime you want.
NB: New documents need to be saved first.
Now you can quickly get to your weekly report, meeting agenda, price list or other document, when you haven't been into it recently.