Word Document Set to Open as "Read-Only" by Default

When you open a file that has the "read-only" set, a message is displayed recommending read only, and asking if you want to make changes.

If you don't see it, then the file itself is marked by Windows as read-only. Close the document. Then use Windows Explorer to go to the document's location. Right-click it and click Properties. In the Properties dialog, uncheck the box for Read-only.

If you do see the message on opening, click the No button to enable editing. Then click File > Save As (or press F12). In the Save As dialog, click the Tools button at the bottom of the window, and choose General Options. In the next dialog, uncheck the "Read-only recommended" box and click OK.

Modify a Word Command

You can modify most Microsoft Word commands by replacing them with macros of the same name. (See instructions below for obtaining the command name).

To display the list of built-in Word commands, go to Macro dialog box [Alt-F8], you select [Word Commands] in the [Macros In:] drop-down box. Every command available on the ribbon or through shortcut keys is listed here. The commands begin with the historical menu name that was used before menus were replaced with the ribbon. Example, the Save command is listed as "FileSave".

You can replace a Word command with a macro by giving a macro the same name as a Word command. A macro named "FileSave", runs the macro when you choose "Save" from the File menu, click the "Save" toolbar button, or press the Ctrl-S shortcut key combination.

The following steps are needed to modify the FileSave command.

1. Press Alt-F8.

2. In the [Macros in] box, select "Word commands".

3. In the [Macro name] box, select "FileSave".

4. In the [Macros in] box, select a template or document location to store the macro. Example, select "Normal.dotm" to create a global macro. This will modify the FileSave command for all documents that use the normal tempate.

5. Click [Create].

The FileSave macro appears as shown below.

        Sub FileSave()
        ' FileSave Macro
        ' Saves the active document or template
        '
            ActiveDocument.Save
        End Sub

You can add additional instructions or remove the existing ActiveDocument.Save instruction. Now every time the FileSave command runs, your FileSave macro runs instead of the Word command. To restore the original FileSave functionality, you need to rename or delete your FileSave macro.

Cloverleaf

1. To find the name of the built-in command Microsoft Word executes when you click an icon or select a menu item; Press Ctrl+Alt+[Plus on the numeric keypad].

2. The cursor changes into a cloverleaf "⌘:"

3. Click the command you want to find information about. A dialog will pop-up "Customize Keyboard" that will allow you to see the command name, and assign a shortcut to it if you desire.

This works on most commands, however some it does not work on. To exit the cloverleaf just hit "ESC".