Windows 7: Can’t use CTRL-F6 in Word when open multiple files f/ Windows Explorer

I believe I’ve run into a bug with Windows Explorer, however, it could possibly be with Word 2010. If it’s not a bug, and can be “fixed” by your helping me, that would be wonderful! (I use Windows 7 Professional, 64-bit.)

This is what does work just fine: From Word, I open a file, then open another file, then another. I am able to use the CTRL-F6 to move from document to document.

This is what does not work: I open those same 3 files from Windows Explorer, by using the mouse to select them and hit ENTER. The files do open in Word. However, the CTRL-F6 keystroke does not work to be able to move from document to document.

In the latter, it’s a little bit as if Windows Explorer is starting multiple copies of Word. However, from the Word icon on the taskbar, both cases look the same, i.e., when I hover over the icon, I can see the 3 miniature files, and can click into any of them.

I’d like to understand what’s going on that’s different in the 2 cases. But I’d really love to learn of how I can make the latter case work. With my work, I do this process (open multiple files from Windows Explorer) dozens of times a day, and I need efficiency. It takes a lot longer to open each file one-by-one. It also takes longer to not be able to use CTRL-F6.

Thanks, if someone can help me.

Works fine here, using Word 2010 (SP1, fully patched) on Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate. I know that doesn't help you with your problem, but assuming you're using Office 2010, at least we can start to wonder if it's something wrong with your installation of Office or Windows - it does work, at least for me :P.

Thank you, cluberti, for testing this on your system. That is a clue that our systems are different. The question is, of course, How? (Yes, I’m using Office 2010.)

Would you please try it again, this time with 7 or more files? I.E., from Windows Explorer, select a larger number of Word files, then hit ENTER. Then test to see if CTRL-F6 cycles through each and every one?

A slightly alternative test is to open from Word a couple of files. Then, do the other procedure by opening from Windows Explorer a bunch of files. Then test CTRL-F6. Are any files left out of a keystroke visit?

If anyone else would like to help, they could try these tests. Am I the only person who has this problem, or does anyone else experience it?

And, does anyone have any theories on why my system would have this problem? Thanks!

OK, tested - it works here. In my case, all of the files open under one single instance of Word 2010 (for clarity, it's Office 2010 32bit on Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64), and cycle properly.

I appreciate your trying it again with the different twist.

Guess what! My husband has a brand new PC with a newly-installed, new version of Windows 7 Professional 64-bit, and a newly-installed, new version of Office 2010. (Though from different sources, our versions are the same except that my Office is Professional and his is Home & Business.)

I ran the tests I have described here on his new system. Lo and behold, his brand new system has the exact same problem, namely, if multiple files are opened from within Word, the CTRL-F6 works. If the same files are instead opened from Windows Explorer, the CTRL-F6 does not work.

That demonstrates that this Microsoft software problem is not because my PC has a faulty installation.
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I should probably bring this issue up where people discuss technical issues about Windows Explorer, since that might be the culprit instead of Word. I don’t know which forum category that fits here.

I need to try to understand in sufficient detail what Explorer is doing when one hits ENTER after selecting various files.

Can you post a step by step (in depth) repro of the problem, so I may make sure I am doing exactly as you are? Short of a video, posting the exact steps one by one should help me figure out where yours is going wrong.

Okay, sure.

1. Prepare (or find) a folder that has (for example) 5 Word files such that in Windows Explorer, Details view, they would be next to each other.

2. Put unique content in each of the 5 Word files so that you can tell them apart.

3. In Windows Explorer, go to that folder and view it in Details view.

4. Use your mouse to simultaneously highlight and select those 5 files.

Below shows an example. My mouse just selected my 5 fives (though my mouse pointer is not showing up in the graphic).





5. Hit [ENTER] on your keyboard.

6. The system will now start Word for you and will open those 5 files, and the 5 Word files will be available to edit in Word.

Below shows what it looks like with my mouse hovering over the Word icon on the taskbar. As you can see, the 5 files are open in Word.





7. Go to any of the Word files as if you were going to edit it.

8. On the keyboard (in Word), simultaneously click [CONTROL] and [F6]. Continue to push CTRL-F6, and report what happens.
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What should happen is that Word would cycle through each of your 5 files (and you can tell that the content is switching from one to another).

This does not happen for me, nor on my husband’s brand new system.

However, if I start the process over and, from within Word, open those same 5 files (i.e., click [FILE], [OPEN], and find the file to open, then the next, etc.), then CTRL-F6 does cycle through the 5 files.
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Whew! I tried to be explicit, above, but am I precise enough? If there's anything I could explain better, please let me know.

Nope, that's good. Let me give it a try in a couple of different Windows 7 VMs when I get back to my hotel later.

Sounds good.

Well, I apologize - I never got to testing this. Hopefully later today.