Opening several files simultaneously

  • Thread starter Thread starter Herbert Eppel
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Herbert Eppel

I have a feeling I may have asked this before, but perhaps it was in a
different forum.

In the past, when I selected several files of the same type in my file
manager and then selected Open from the context menu, the documents
would all open in their default application as expected.

For example, if I selected 4 Word documents they would open in 4
separate Word windows.

For some reason this no longer happens - in fact nothing happens when I
select Open.

Any comments/suggestions?

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
 
Herbert said:
I have a feeling I may have asked this before, but perhaps it was in a
different forum.

In the past, when I selected several files of the same type in my file
manager and then selected Open from the context menu, the documents
would all open in their default application as expected.

For example, if I selected 4 Word documents they would open in 4
separate Word windows.

For some reason this no longer happens - in fact nothing happens when I
select Open.

Any comments/suggestions?

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
Click to expand...

In the context menu, is "Open" still in bold? Does Word open if you use
a shortcut to it? I'm thinking this could be an associations problem
with some file types.. if so, that would have to be fixed within Word or
Office, I suspect.

Does this happen exclusively with Office programs? If so, try posting
to a couple of Word or Office groups where this is possibly a common
occurrence.
 
In the context menu, is "Open" still in bold? Does Word open if you use
a shortcut to it? I'm thinking this could be an associations problem
with some file types.. if so, that would have to be fixed within Word or
Office, I suspect.

Does this happen exclusively with Office programs? If so, try posting
to a couple of Word or Office groups where this is possibly a common
occurrence.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, Open is bold.

The problem is a generic one, i.e. not limited to Word/Office.

Other colleagues have the same problem - see
<http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/help_/message/23030>.

I started having this problem out of the blue some time ago.

Does it work OK for you?

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
 
Elmo said:
In the context menu, is "Open" still in bold? Does Word open if you use
a shortcut to it? I'm thinking this could be an associations problem
with some file types.. if so, that would have to be fixed within Word or
Office, I suspect.

Does this happen exclusively with Office programs? If so, try posting
to a couple of Word or Office groups where this is possibly a common
occurrence.
Click to expand...
To check file associations, from windows explorer, click on Tools ->
Folder Options -> File Types

Then scroll down to .doc, .docm, .docx, .dotm and see what the default
application to open with is.
 
To check file associations, from windows explorer, click on Tools ->
Folder Options -> File Types

Then scroll down to .doc, .docm, .docx, .dotm and see what the default
application to open with is.
Click to expand...

Thanks, but my file associations are OK, i.e. double-clicking individual
files results in them opening in the correct application.

The problem is a generic one, i.e. not limited to Word/Office.

Any more ideas?

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
 
Herbert said:
Thanks for your reply.

Yes, Open is bold.

The problem is a generic one, i.e. not limited to Word/Office.

Other colleagues have the same problem - see
<http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/help_/message/23030>.

I started having this problem out of the blue some time ago.

Does it work OK for you?

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
Click to expand...

Here's a page that deals with context menu handlers. Step 4 is close,
though it mentions that single files open correctly.

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

Here's a Google Groups search on opening multiple files:

http://groups.google.com/groups/search?q=open+multiple+files&btnG=Search&sitesearch=

And, though not a solution, to simplify opening multiple files, press
the Enter key after highlighting the files; that saves a couple of
steps.. right-click, click Open..

hth,
 
Here's a page that deals with context menu handlers. Step 4 is close,
though it mentions that single files open correctly.

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

Here's a Google Groups search on opening multiple files:

http://groups.google.com/groups/search?q=open+multiple+files&btnG=Search&sitesearch=

And, though not a solution, to simplify opening multiple files, press
the Enter key after highlighting the files; that saves a couple of
steps.. right-click, click Open..
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply.

Other colleagues in another forum pointed to similar information at
<http://bit.ly/iRhLV> and <http://bit.ly/OzHwk>.

However, while I don't mind making straightforward changes in the
registry, it seems that trying to pinpoint the problem could be
relatively involved in his case.

In any case, thanks for pointing out the Enter workaround - maybe not a
solution, but quicker and more efficient anyway, as you say, although
with MS Word 2003 files (and perhaps other Office files?) it also seems
to open an additional, unwanted empty Word window :-(

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
 
Herbert said:
Thanks for your reply.

Other colleagues in another forum pointed to similar information at
<http://bit.ly/iRhLV> and <http://bit.ly/OzHwk>.

However, while I don't mind making straightforward changes in the
registry, it seems that trying to pinpoint the problem could be
relatively involved in his case.

In any case, thanks for pointing out the Enter workaround - maybe not a
solution, but quicker and more efficient anyway, as you say, although
with MS Word 2003 files (and perhaps other Office files?) it also seems
to open an additional, unwanted empty Word window :-(

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
Click to expand...

The problem is possibly with the associations for the document type.
..doc files are set through Word though, so you may not be given the
option to click "Advanced" in "Folder Options", "File Types". If not,
see if there's a "Fix associations" option within Word, or Office.
Maybe a reinstall of Word or Office would help.

It's also possible that other software installed is preventing this. Is
there anything unique running, such as another Explorer utility, Power
Desktop or the like? Disable if so, as a test.
 
The problem is possibly with the associations for the document type.
.doc files are set through Word though, so you may not be given the
option to click "Advanced" in "Folder Options", "File Types". If not,
see if there's a "Fix associations" option within Word, or Office.
Maybe a reinstall of Word or Office would help.

It's also possible that other software installed is preventing this. Is
there anything unique running, such as another Explorer utility, Power
Desktop or the like? Disable if so, as a test.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your further reply.

I'm getting a little confused (easily done :-[ ), and I'm not sure
whether your further suggestions refer to trying to resolve the original
non-functioning Open issue or the issue of an unwanted empty Word window
opening when I hit Enter after selecting files.

Now that I now that the Enter workaround exists, I don't really need to
resolve the original Open issue any more, but the empty Word windows are
troublesome because on closing Word it then seems to go into a rather
annoying "Do you want to save normal.dot" routine =-O

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
 
Herbert said:
The problem is possibly with the associations for the document type.
.doc files are set through Word though, so you may not be given the
option to click "Advanced" in "Folder Options", "File Types". If not,
see if there's a "Fix associations" option within Word, or Office.
Maybe a reinstall of Word or Office would help.

It's also possible that other software installed is preventing this. Is
there anything unique running, such as another Explorer utility, Power
Desktop or the like? Disable if so, as a test.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your further reply.

I'm getting a little confused (easily done :-[ ), and I'm not sure
whether your further suggestions refer to trying to resolve the original
non-functioning Open issue or the issue of an unwanted empty Word window
opening when I hit Enter after selecting files.

Now that I now that the Enter workaround exists, I don't really need to
resolve the original Open issue any more, but the empty Word windows are
troublesome because on closing Word it then seems to go into a rather
annoying "Do you want to save normal.dot" routine =-O
Click to expand...

Someone in a Word or Office NG might have seen this behavior before.

Have you tried running "Detect and Repair" from the Help menu?
 
Herbert said:
And, though not a solution, to simplify opening multiple files, press
the Enter key after highlighting the files; that saves a couple of
steps.. right-click, click Open..
Thanks for your reply.

Other colleagues in another forum pointed to similar information at
<http://bit.ly/iRhLV> and <http://bit.ly/OzHwk>.

However, while I don't mind making straightforward changes in the
registry, it seems that trying to pinpoint the problem could be
relatively involved in his case.

In any case, thanks for pointing out the Enter workaround - maybe not a
solution, but quicker and more efficient anyway, as you say, although
with MS Word 2003 files (and perhaps other Office files?) it also seems
to open an additional, unwanted empty Word window :-(

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
The problem is possibly with the associations for the document type.
.doc files are set through Word though, so you may not be given the
option to click "Advanced" in "Folder Options", "File Types". If not,
see if there's a "Fix associations" option within Word, or Office.
Maybe a reinstall of Word or Office would help.

It's also possible that other software installed is preventing this. Is
there anything unique running, such as another Explorer utility, Power
Desktop or the like? Disable if so, as a test.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your further reply.

I'm getting a little confused (easily done :-[ ), and I'm not sure
whether your further suggestions refer to trying to resolve the original
non-functioning Open issue or the issue of an unwanted empty Word window
opening when I hit Enter after selecting files.

Now that I now that the Enter workaround exists, I don't really need to
resolve the original Open issue any more, but the empty Word windows are
troublesome because on closing Word it then seems to go into a rather
annoying "Do you want to save normal.dot" routine =-O
Click to expand...

Someone in a Word or Office NG might have seen this behavior before.

Have you tried running "Detect and Repair" from the Help menu?
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply.

I just ran "Detect and Repair", but the problem persists =-O

Which do you think is the best NG for trying to get to the bottom of this?

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
 
Herbert said:
Herbert said:
On 07.07.2009 14:29 UK Time, Elmo wrote:

And, though not a solution, to simplify opening multiple files, press
the Enter key after highlighting the files; that saves a couple of
steps.. right-click, click Open..
Thanks for your reply.

Other colleagues in another forum pointed to similar information at
<http://bit.ly/iRhLV> and <http://bit.ly/OzHwk>.

However, while I don't mind making straightforward changes in the
registry, it seems that trying to pinpoint the problem could be
relatively involved in his case.

In any case, thanks for pointing out the Enter workaround - maybe
not a
solution, but quicker and more efficient anyway, as you say, although
with MS Word 2003 files (and perhaps other Office files?) it also
seems
to open an additional, unwanted empty Word window :-(

Herbert Eppel
www.HETranslation.co.uk
The problem is possibly with the associations for the document type.
.doc files are set through Word though, so you may not be given the
option to click "Advanced" in "Folder Options", "File Types". If not,
see if there's a "Fix associations" option within Word, or Office.
Maybe a reinstall of Word or Office would help.

It's also possible that other software installed is preventing
this. Is
there anything unique running, such as another Explorer utility, Power
Desktop or the like? Disable if so, as a test.

Thanks for your further reply.

I'm getting a little confused (easily done :-[ ), and I'm not sure
whether your further suggestions refer to trying to resolve the original
non-functioning Open issue or the issue of an unwanted empty Word window
opening when I hit Enter after selecting files.

Now that I now that the Enter workaround exists, I don't really need to
resolve the original Open issue any more, but the empty Word windows are
troublesome because on closing Word it then seems to go into a rather
annoying "Do you want to save normal.dot" routine =-O
Click to expand...

Someone in a Word or Office NG might have seen this behavior before.

Have you tried running "Detect and Repair" from the Help menu?
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply.

I just ran "Detect and Repair", but the problem persists =-O

Which do you think is the best NG for trying to get to the bottom of this?
Click to expand...

I don't subscribe to any of them, but these look appropriate:

microsoft.public.word.application.errors
microsoft.public.office.misc
 
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