Question

How do I re-configure Powerpoint 2007 to open a file in a separate window/process/instance?

Asked by: doctorevan

How do I re-configure Powerpoint 2007 to open a file in a separate window/process/instance?

What's crazy though is that previously when I opened a new powerpoint document or already created powerpoint file, it would open in its own separate window automatically! I thought this was the default setting.

Then, in Powerpoint options/Advanced/Display I changed the "Open all documents using this view" option to "Normal" instead of "The view saved in the file" and began having the same problem you guys are.

A tedious search of the internet reveals forums that say having the "Show all windows in the taskbar" option checked will enable the functionality we desire, but mine has always been enabled and still is with no resolution. It seems like there should be a better way than the crude solution of making ppt files open via a diff user. Going back to my default settings hasn't helped either :(

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Asked On
2008-03-29 at 12:56:04ID23279813
Tags

Microsoft

,

Powerpoint

,

2007

Topics

Microsoft Powerpoint Presentation Software

,

Microsoft Office Suite

,

Microsoft Applications

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: GlennaShawPosted on 2008-03-29 at 16:49:22ID: 21238664

PowerPoint is a single instance application and cannot open in multiple windows like Word does.  This has been a restriction in all versions of PowerPoint.  The show windows on taskbar option just puts a link on the taskbar for each open presentation, it doesn't open in a separate window and has never been able to.

However, you can open multiple windows within PowerPoint 2007.  Click the view tab and you will see a windows section with multiple options.
http://www.themssforum.com/Powerpoint/Opening-multiple-265146/

 

by: doctorevanPosted on 2008-03-29 at 16:59:22ID: 21238708

Well, you are correct in that windows runs one instance of powerpoint in the task manager.  However, prior to making the change I described above I was still able to have multiple processes of it running in side by side windows (not multiple documents within the same process); which is why being unable to do it now is so frustrating.

I will probably reinstall it this evening and see if that restores it to whatever setting was enabled before that allowed me to do it.

The fact remains thought that I could do it before and now I can't; which means that there must me a mechanism by which it is toggled.

 

by: GlennaShawPosted on 2008-03-31 at 06:54:17ID: 21245340

There are only a few ways you could've accomplished this:
Run one instance of PowerPoint and one instance of PowerPoint Viewer
or
deliberately signed on as two users and had each user run a separate instance of PowerPoint

PowerPoint is a single instance application and ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

 

by: doctorevanPosted on 2008-04-04 at 13:05:55ID: 21285221

I re-installed Office, and now it works perfectly.  It default opens any ppt or pptx in a different instance of powerpoint (still only one task in the task manager though).

I don't know why my copy of Office defaults like this.  It's a student license of Office Enterprise purchased through our med school's bookstore.  Thanks for your attention though.

Best,
Evan

 

by: GlennaShawPosted on 2008-04-07 at 09:48:44ID: 21298583

Hi Evan,
Would you mind attaching a few screenshots?  I'd love to see what's happening since this is frequently requested.

Thanks again!
Glenna

 

by: petevealPosted on 2008-04-27 at 23:37:05ID: 21451907

so what's solution (apart from reinstalling office)?  how can i reconfigure office to make it behave like this?

thanks,
pete

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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