Stopping Task Pane from Opening (2003)

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I have unchecked the option ‘startup task pane’ several times but it doesn’t seem to stick (esp between reboots). I must be missing something. How do I keep this option from having a mind of its own?

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Try the Task Pane Controller from the Word MVP site (download link near the bottom of that page.)

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Got it. Thanks.

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Got it. Thanks.

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Well I was a bit premature. I got the file (exe). It contains another file but no extension. I feel ignorant for sure – how does one actually use this?

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Start Word.
Select Tools | Options…
Activate the File Locations tab.
Note the startup path. If it’s too long, click Modify, then drop down the Look in list to see the complete path. On Windows XP, the default setting is

C:Documents and SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftWordStartup

Quit Word.
Copy the file you got out of the exe to this folder. You must show hidden files and folders, for Application Data is hidden.
Start Word; the add-in should be loaded automatically. It will probably add a menu item (I can’t test, for the file refuses to download to my PC.)

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The file that is in the exe is “TaskPaneController.exe_extracted”; note, NO extension. I did as you suggested but I can’t find anything that remotely resembles a menu item or dialog as indicated in the Word MVP page.

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I don’t think that is the correct file, but as I wrote, I can’t test at the moment since I can’t download the .exe (some kind of company policy.) If nobody else reacts, I’ll try later on, on another computer.

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(Edited by tony55 on 27-May-04 15:36. size of file added)

Just tried it, 1 file downloaded called TaskPaneController.exe
Size of file 82,432 bytes. Running this program opened up Word and added an option to the Tools menu called “Task Pane Controller”

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M

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M

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Edited by Phil Rabichow to make the link clickable – see Help #19
Strange. I tried and file size is 69.78k.

I went here: http://word.mvps.org/faqs/customization/ShowTaskPane.htm%5B/url%5D

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Edited by Phil Rabichow to make the link clickable – see Help #19
Strange. I tried and file size is 69.78k.

I went here: http://word.mvps.org/faqs/customization/ShowTaskPane.htm%5B/url%5D

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(Edited by tony55 on 27-May-04 15:36. size of file added)

Just tried it, 1 file downloaded called TaskPaneController.exe
Size of file 82,432 bytes. Running this program opened up Word and added an option to the Tools menu called “Task Pane Controller”

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I don’t think that is the correct file, but as I wrote, I can’t test at the moment since I can’t download the .exe (some kind of company policy.) If nobody else reacts, I’ll try later on, on another computer.

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Hi, I just downloaded the file and ran it ( after closing Outlook as it prompted) and it just installed it staight into word for me.

Are you sure you got the right file? I can post it as a zip if you like, and if that’s ok in the lounge? (72.k)

I was thinking of sticking :

Application.TaskPanes(wdTaskPaneFormatting).Visible = False

in the open of the normal template or something like that as an alternative but wouldnt be sure where abouts that would go.

Strangely I have writted code to turn it on in certain situations, as mine stays off normally !

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Strange. I went to http://word.mvps.org/faqs/customization/ShowTaskPane.htm to get the d/l. Nothing on the page said anything about closing outlook. After your message I closed OL and tried again. Same result.

If this is where you went, then yes, please send a zip since obviously I’ve got a problem somewhere. In meantime I will reboot and try again anyway (rebooting didn’t help).

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Hi Colonel, paste this into your browser, this is the download that Hans pointed to. Upon execution it propmts you to close Outlook, this should work.

http://word.mvps.org/Downloads/TaskPaneController.exe

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I think I’m going nuts! Tried entering your link and claim is it can’t find site or file.

http://word.mvps.org/Downloads/TaskPaneController.exe

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If you can’t get that Add-In to work, you can make the change yourself in the Registry.

Requisite warning about being careful when editing the registry. Just take it slow. You’re making a real minor change here.

Go to Start -> Run, and Run regedit.exe

Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice11.0CommonGeneral

Select the “DoNotDismissFileNewTaskPane” key. Change its value from 1 to 0.

Exit regedit and restart Word. Word will now follow whatever setting you have for the Task Pane in Tools->Options->View

HTH

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Thanks. Finally got the other to work.

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Thanks. Finally got the other to work.

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Have done this registry change (along with installing the add-in) and I still get the periodic opening of word with the taskpane showing. I am at a loss as to why this doesn’t fix the problem.

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Have done this registry change (along with installing the add-in) and I still get the periodic opening of word with the taskpane showing. I am at a loss as to why this doesn’t fix the problem.

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If you can’t get that Add-In to work, you can make the change yourself in the Registry.

Requisite warning about being careful when editing the registry. Just take it slow. You’re making a real minor change here.

Go to Start -> Run, and Run regedit.exe

Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice11.0CommonGeneral

Select the “DoNotDismissFileNewTaskPane” key. Change its value from 1 to 0.

Exit regedit and restart Word. Word will now follow whatever setting you have for the Task Pane in Tools->Options->View

HTH

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To make sure, clear the contents of the address box in the address toolbar of your browser completely before pasting the address Matz posted. I am on my home PC now, and downloaded the .exe from that address without a problem. Download to a folder of your choice, then start the .exe from there. Attached is a screenshot of the dialog that appears.

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I followed your suggestion and also avoided my proxy and finally got the right size file. Thanks.

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I followed your suggestion and also avoided my proxy and finally got the right size file. Thanks.

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Hans,

In spite of using the addin and even trying the registry change, I still get the silly TP opening periodically. Any ideas on what might be the problem?

Thanks.

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Are you sure you have set the options in Tools | Task Pane Controller correctly? (See screenshot) If you have, I don’t have an explanation or workaround; it may be “Microsoft knows what’s best for you” behavior.

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Yep. Have done that probably 10 times now since I’ve installed it.

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Yep. Have done that probably 10 times now since I’ve installed it.

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Are you sure you have set the options in Tools | Task Pane Controller correctly? (See screenshot) If you have, I don’t have an explanation or workaround; it may be “Microsoft knows what’s best for you” behavior.

Reply | Quote

Hans,

In spite of using the addin and even trying the registry change, I still get the silly TP opening periodically. Any ideas on what might be the problem?

Thanks.

Reply | Quote

To make sure, clear the contents of the address box in the address toolbar of your browser completely before pasting the address Matz posted. I am on my home PC now, and downloaded the .exe from that address without a problem. Download to a folder of your choice, then start the .exe from there. Attached is a screenshot of the dialog that appears.

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I think I’m going nuts! Tried entering your link and claim is it can’t find site or file.

http://word.mvps.org/Downloads/TaskPaneController.exe

Reply | Quote

Hi Colonel, paste this into your browser, this is the download that Hans pointed to. Upon execution it propmts you to close Outlook, this should work.

http://word.mvps.org/Downloads/TaskPaneController.exe

Reply | Quote

Strange. I went to http://word.mvps.org/faqs/customization/ShowTaskPane.htm to get the d/l. Nothing on the page said anything about closing outlook. After your message I closed OL and tried again. Same result.

If this is where you went, then yes, please send a zip since obviously I’ve got a problem somewhere. In meantime I will reboot and try again anyway (rebooting didn’t help).

Reply | Quote

Hi, I just downloaded the file and ran it ( after closing Outlook as it prompted) and it just installed it staight into word for me.

Are you sure you got the right file? I can post it as a zip if you like, and if that’s ok in the lounge? (72.k)

I was thinking of sticking :

Application.TaskPanes(wdTaskPaneFormatting).Visible = False

in the open of the normal template or something like that as an alternative but wouldnt be sure where abouts that would go.

Strangely I have writted code to turn it on in certain situations, as mine stays off normally !

Reply | Quote

The file that is in the exe is “TaskPaneController.exe_extracted”; note, NO extension. I did as you suggested but I can’t find anything that remotely resembles a menu item or dialog as indicated in the Word MVP page.

Reply | Quote

Start Word.
Select Tools | Options…
Activate the File Locations tab.
Note the startup path. If it’s too long, click Modify, then drop down the Look in list to see the complete path. On Windows XP, the default setting is

C:Documents and SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftWordStartup

Quit Word.
Copy the file you got out of the exe to this folder. You must show hidden files and folders, for Application Data is hidden.
Start Word; the add-in should be loaded automatically. It will probably add a menu item (I can’t test, for the file refuses to download to my PC.)

Reply | Quote

Well I was a bit premature. I got the file (exe). It contains another file but no extension. I feel ignorant for sure – how does one actually use this?

Reply | Quote

Try the Task Pane Controller from the Word MVP site (download link near the bottom of that page.)

Reply | Quote