Share via

Is there a keyboard shortcut for switching between Word documents?

Anonymous
2014-05-06T19:16:43+00:00

Gee I just love the way Microsoft tries to think for me popping up the most USELESS suggestions when you're composing your original post.  Sometimes I wonder if anybody there speaks English as their first language. I doubt it.  The suggestions have almost nothing to do with my subject.  Thankfully, here in these forums, many people have a good grasp of the language.  

Anybody know where the option is in Word 2003 to allow multiple documents to be in their own windows?  Can't find it.  Using Microsoft help is worse than useless.  I used to use that and it was convenient because then you just Alt_Tab between documents instantly.

How about something better:  A keyboard shortcut for switching between 2 open Word 2003 documents?  Is this possible in Word 2003?  That would be mighty handy and fluid.  In Excel, apparently its Control_PageDown/Up but that doesn't work here.  So nice when Microsoft chooses to not bring over shortcuts from one of their programs to another.  That would be way too logical.  Its like nobody talks to other departments at this company.  It sure would make users' experiences a lot more convenient if the shortcuts were the same.  Control_PageDown/Up does nothing in Word except move the page down/up.  So its not even being used.

Thanks for reading.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

  1. Stefan Blom 339.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-05-06T22:10:17+00:00

    In Word 2003, the option you are referring to is at Tools | Options | View: "Windows in Taskbar."

    To move between open documents, you can use Ctrl+F6; this works in most Windows applications. With the "Windows in Taskbar" option enabled, you can also use Ctrl+Tab, but note that it switches between all open windows, that is, also between other applications that may be open.

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

10 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-07-09T15:17:12+00:00

    Just wanted to update this: Suddenly its not grayed out.  Alt_Tab is the most perfect way of switching as its instant.  Use Full Screen to maximize space.  Now this works.

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-07-09T14:55:46+00:00

    This worked before but now "Windows in Taskbar" grayed out.  Doesn't make any difference if there are 2 docs open or 1.  If there are none Options is grayed out.  I've searched online with no luck.  

    Another option allows one to go into Window and use some of the options to compare 2 docs at a time, vertically or horizontally.  This is nice.  Now is there a way of comparing both without any toolbars wasting vertical space?  That would be REALLY nice and more efficient.  Most people that have a functioning brain can remember frequently used keyboard shortcuts though its amazing how many people don't bother and their productivity is hampered so much because of it.  

    Once you are comparing 2 docs can you switch between them more easily than Alt_W, 1 or 2?  This is unconventional and awkward.  Using a mouse is for people stunted in the area of productivity.  By the time the hand moves to the mouse I've already done the shortcut 3 times.  Then they have to move the cursor to the right spot, click it, and come back to the keyboard.  An incredible waste of time considering many people do this thousands of times a day.  Stubbornness, the bane of humanity in the workplace.

    0 comments
  3. Stefan Blom 339.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-05-07T08:22:44+00:00

    You are welcome.

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2014-05-06T23:31:24+00:00

    Perfect answer on both counts.

    You should be the one writing those Help files of Microsoft.  With you at the helm they would actually be relevant and make sense to the non-experts out there who are the ones that need to read them.  Well done.  Thank you!

    0 comments