Closing All Documents

If you upgraded from Word 97 to a later version of Word, you may have noticed that the program includes many different changes to the ways that tasks used to be accomplished. One change is that the Alt+F4 shortcut no longer closes all documents and exits Word. Instead, it only closes the document on which you are currently working; other documents remain open.

If you want to accomplish the same thing in Word 2000 or later versions, you can hold down the Shift key as you select Exit from the File menu. This obviously isn't as fast as it used to be (pressing Alt+F4 is quicker), but it still gets you out of all your documents. If you instead want to customize Word so it works as it used to in Word 97, follow these steps:

1. Choose Customize from the Tools menu. Word displays the Customize dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
2. Click on the Keyboard button. Word displays the Customize Keyboard dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Make sure File is chosen in the Categories list.
4. In the list of Commands, choose FileExit.
5. Click in the Press New Shortcut Key box.
6. Press ALT+F4. Word informs you that the shortcut is already assigned to the FileCloseOrExit command.
7. Click on Assign.
8. Click on Close to dismiss the Customize Keyboard dialog box.
9. Click on Close again.