Can I switch to a "folder" view of an open MS Office file?

self

[rudy45]

I have an open MS Office file (e.g. Word document, Excel spreadsheet, PowerPoint presentation). I would like to see the graphical location of this file, using Windows Explorer. Is there a command I can use within that Office application that brings up, within Explorer, the location of that file? I know I can click on File/Properties, but then I have to remember the sequence of folders, then manually look it up via Explorer (which is a nuisance). I was hoping there's some way of zooming right to that location.

I would need this capability, for example, if I wanted to burn the file to a CD. Thanks.

[rdb3]

Which OS?

This is a ch__ch. What's missing?

[rudy45]

XP Home, Word 2002

[rdb3]

Right-click the file, then choose 'Properties.' It will tell you the location.

Next, all you have to do is left-click and drag to highlight the entire directory tree. Do as you wish with it since it's now on your clipboard.

This is a ch__ch. What's missing?

[BubbaTheRocketScientist]

In Word, click File -> Properties, go to the General tab. Highlight the location, then press control-c to copy it to the clipboard. Now click Start -> Run, and paste into the "open" box, and click OK. The folder should then open for you.

[rudy45]

Thanks, it worked.

I really appreciate it.

Is this the only way? There's no "view in folder" option?

Thanks.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

If you used File>Open to open the current doc then clicking File>Open again should take you to that same containing folder by default, I think. now if you just browsed explorer for it to open it and not opened it from within office, I dont think that will work initially. There is no "folders view" button like in windows explorer but you can probably find a 3rd party add on, or maybe ms makes one. Interesting, I may look for one as well.

[Incorrigible]

My, my, my.... Look who's the Windows expert around here!!!

Now if you ansered a Mac question like this, I'd have to worry about you!

:-)

[rdb3]

Hey, don't hate the playa. Hate the game! :-P

This is a ch__ch. What's missing?

[BubbaTheRocketScientist]

That's the only way I know to do it; I don't know of any built-in word function that will do what you want.

Thanks.
You're welcome!

[BubbaTheRocketScientist]

Here's a (relatively) simple way to make a toolbar button to do what you want.

Click tools -> macro -> macros
In the "macros in" combo box select Normal.dot (global template). In the Macro Name box put OpenExplorerWindow and click create. The VBA editor should pop up with an empty function definition created for you.

Paste the following code into the empty function:

      Dim objShell
      Dim objFolder
      Dim strDir
      strDir = Word.Documents.Item(1).Path
      Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
      objShell.Explore (strDir)

Now click the "save" button in the VBA editor, that should save the new macro in normal.dot so you can access it from any Word document.

Close the VBA editor and go back to Word. Click View -> Toolbars -> Customize, then click the Commands tab. In the Categories listbox, click "Macros", then find "Normal.NewMacros.OpenExplorerWindow" in the Commands listbox. Click and drag Normal.NewMacros.OpenExplorerWindow from that listbox and drop it onto one of your toolbars.

You should now have a button which, when clicked, opens a Windows Explorer window showing the location of the current document.

[rudy45]

You, sir, are a genius.

Another way is to do a file open, then click on "recent." The file I am working with should show up at or near the top of the list. At that point, simply drag and drop it.

Thanks again.

[Nasty McPhilthy]

I'm not sure if this is going to help you, but I have a link to "My Docs" included in MS Internet Explorer. When I click the link, everything in it is opened in a page that shows the path to each doc.