Sometimes it’s the little things

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Final setting up that new Windows 11 in the office and sometimes you forget the little things. Like disabling ‘Backstage’ view in Word and Excel. What
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Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Hailstorm, TechTango

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Susan Bradley wrote:

So what do you do to customize the launching of your applications?

Microsoft 365 Family programs (Word, Excel, …) show the launch for 0:00.87, less than one second.  For me, that’s too trivial to worry with.  If I’m opening an existing Excel or Word file, the launch is a blink before the file is open and ready, too fast for me to even time it.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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This makes Excel and Work open straight up to a blank document rather than making it open to a ‘browse for a document’.  If you have an older version of Word/Excel this is how they opened up.  Newer versions open up to this backstage.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Susan Bradley wrote:

This makes Excel and Work open straight up to a blank document rather than making it open to a ‘browse for a document’.

I’ve edited my original reply to indicate I’m using Microsoft 365 Family, not an older version of Office.  If I open Word, for example, using the Start Menu, it opens to a Template selection on top with “Blank document” highlighted, below that a Search bar, and below that “Recent”, “Pinned”, and “Shared with Me” with “Recent” highlighted above the six most recent Word documents, with “More documents —>” on the bottom right.

So it does open to an immediate option to browse for a document.  As for Excel, I have some spreadsheets that I use frequently, and those have shortcuts on my desktop, so that a double-click will open the spreadsheet with a blink of the Start screen.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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We prefer the older way to open to a blank document, then browse.  Often we are starting a spreadsheet new, not opening an older one.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Susan Bradley wrote:

Often we are starting a spreadsheet new, not opening an older one.

bbearren wrote:

Before I retired I was using older versions of Office, and I created and used blank workbooks and worksheets (with shortcuts on my desktop) as templates.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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bbearren wrote:

If I’m opening an existing Excel or Word file, the launch is a blink before the file is open and ready, too fast for me to even time it.

Disabling the backstage (what used to be called the Start Screen) applies to opening Word or Excel to create a new document and not the opening of an existing Word or Excel document. Besides having to click twice to open a new document, the Start screen in Excel must be turned off to have it open by default to your modified templates for Workbook and worksheets in older versions of Excel.  This appears to have changed in newer versions of Excel and the open blank workbook in the backstage does open your modified template.  Well, it still saves an extra click and my old hands appreciate any saved clicks.

HTH, Dana:))

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Drcard:)) wrote:

Besides having to click twice to open a new document, the Start screen in Excel must be turned off to have it open by default to your modified templates for Workbook and worksheets in older versions of Excel.

Before I retired I was using older versions of Office, and I created and used blank workbooks and worksheets (with shortcuts on my desktop) as templates.  I didn’t (and still don’t) mind double-clicking, but that can easily be changed to a single-click for desktop icons.

I only use a couple of Excel workbooks now, but I open them from a desktop icon.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Susan Bradley wrote:

It’s something that takes one more click per opening of a document out of your life that is slightly annoying.

If, after launching Word or Excel, you intend to open a document (or edit, read, print, copy or share an existing file) then it’s one less click from the Start page.

It’s only one more click if you want to create a new document based on the default template more often than those other actions.

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I’m still using Word 2007 on a desktop system. I’ve got photo phobia and that bright white screen is painful, even though the monitor is turned way down. I avoid it when I can. In Word Options/Popular, I choose Color scheme Silver. Same setting in Excel. That stops the squinting. It only causes problems when I want to use shading. In Display/formatting I’m also sure to “Show all formatting marks”. When something blows all over the place, I want to SEE what is causing it.

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‘Backstage’ – a typical Microsoft hijack of a well-known phrase indicating ‘just off the limelight’.

(It makes a welcome change from just creating new random words and throwing them out there… like ‘flighting’. ROFL)

Will ‘Backstage’ now be trademarked to stop theatres impinging on the rights of the Borg?

Cynical? Moi?

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Susan asked about setting up a new O365 Business installation. There’s a lot of settings. Here’s my list:

Set in a configuration file applied at install for all users: Show start screen off in W,X,Pp (this is the “backstage” setting); Autorecover save time set to 3 minutes in W,X,Pp,Pu; Word printing update fields before printing; Disable LinkedIn features; Word prompt before saving normal; Outlook/Calendar no default reminder on new items (I can share my .xml if anyone wants it)

Set by hand user by user:

• Merge c:\O365Install\DisableWNCS.reg to turn off what’s new & coming soon
• (optional if multiple computers in use by user) Point dictionary to onedrive and make it default; copy existing there.
• Office background: None (in File/Options)
• W,X,Pp,Pu Save to computer by default (set one sets all) File/Options/Save
  Show addl places for saving in all
• Word/Advanced (Save) Always create backup copy
• Pub/General Turn off show template gallery
• Outlook/Mail/Check spelling before sending, On arrival only play a sound, always use default accnt, commas separate addresses, mark read when deleted
• Outlook/Calendar Show bell item when reminder
• Outlook/Groups Turn off everything
• Outlook/Advanced Show reminders, Reminder sound
• Outlook/View Use Tighter Spacing
• OWA for each user: Addins. Turn off Action Items, Suggested Meetings, FindTime, Outlook Customer manager, Insights in https://outlook.office365.com/ecp

Edited to add: for a new computer that’s a 1,000 lines of PowerShell and then another checklist of little things, before installing O365.

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Qeyleb, AlexEiffel

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I would be quite interested to see this xml.  At first I was excited and thought they might have updated config.office.com with more settings, but nope.  Would love to see how you’ve done it.

 

Your ‘by hand’ stuff, are they all registry settings?

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Some registry tweaks I do. For Office 2016, change the 16.0 to the appropriate number for another version.

; Deactivates the ability to sign in in Office 2016. To reactivate, just set the value to 0
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\SignIn]
“SignInOptions”=dword:00000003

; From 2 to 0 to deactivates external files access and sharepoint integration
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Internet]
“UseOnlineContent”=dword:00000000

; deactivate the start screen for all Office apps
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\General]
“DisableBootToOfficeStart”=dword:00000001

; deactivate the annoying animations
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Graphics]
“DisableAnimations”=dword:00000001

; prevents always asking to save even if you didn’t change anything when you open a file from an older version of Office
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Options]
“FullCalcOnLoadOldFile”=dword:00000001

2 users thanked author for this post.

Qeyleb, windbg

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