For many of us, the routine is the same: when we start Windows, we automatically launch Word as well. Even more convenient is having Word automatically open the last document we worked on. Sure, opening it yourself takes only a few mouse clicks, but automating the process can help you customise your desktop to suit the way you work.

Caption: Automating Word startup begins with the
Start Menu Programs tab

A little manipulation of the Start menu in Windows 95 and 98 is all that's required to get Word to start automatically. The method below is the easiest and ensures that you'll also be able to launch Word from the Start menu at any time.

1. From the desktop, right-click a blank area on the taskbar and then select Properties from the pop-up menu.

2. In the Taskbar Properties dialogue box, click the Start Menu Programs tab, then click Advanced.

3. In the left pane of the Exploring-Start Menu window, expand the Programs listing by clicking the plus sign next to the word Programs.

4. Click Programs in the left pane and then scroll down in the right pane until you find the Microsoft Word entry. If it isn't there, you will have to locate the icon manually. It will be in the folder that you normally open when you use the Start menu to run Word.

5. Scroll, if necessary, to make sure the StartUp folder is visible in the left pane of the Exploring window, then right-drag the Microsoft Word entry to the StartUp folder in the left pane.

6. Select Copy Here in the pop-up menu. This puts Word in the StartUp folder while retaining it in its previous location so you will be able to run it after exiting StartUp. (Hint: if you're using Windows 98 or the Active Desktop in Internet Explorer 4.0, you may also want to right-drag the Word icon to the Quick Launch toolbar, where it's always accessible via a single click.)

Want Word to open the last document you worked on as soon as it launches? Here's a simple macro that does just that.

1. With Word running, select Tools-Macro-Macros.

2. Type Autoexec in the Macro name field of the Macros dialogue box and click Create.

3. Carefully type the single line of macro text below, between the Sub autoexec() and End Sub lines, in the macro editor. Include punctuation as shown.

4. Select File-Save Normal, then File-Close and Return to Microsoft Word.

Caption: Type the middle line to complete this macro for
automatic file opening in Word 97

Hint: if you would rather have Word display the File-Open dialogue box instead of launching the last document you worked on, type wdDialogFileOpen into the macro instead of the line above. To have Word display the File-New dialogue box, type wdDialogFileNew.

1. With Word running, select Tools-Macro.

2. Type Autoexec in the Macro name field of the Macros dialogue box and click Create.

3. Type the macro text shown below, between the Sub MAIN and End Sub lines.

4. Select File-Close and click Yes when prompted to save the changes in the macro.