Single Document Interface Behavior

pokeefe0001 · 31 Jul 2011

I have recently been told that a program complying with the SDI standard will terminate when the last or only file being processed is closed. I was told that MS Word displays this behavior. But that is not how my copy of Word (in Office 2010) behaves. When I close the last document being processed Word stays active and is processing a new, empty document (which is exactly as I would wish).

So how should an SDI-compliant program behave: as my Word (and Powerpoint, and probably other things on Office 2010) behave, or should it terminate when the last document is closed? Do I have something odd set that makes Word behave as it does?

Update: I see this posting has been moved from the "General" forum to the :Microsoft Office" forum. Does that imply that only Office products use SDI?

pokeefe0001 · 04 Aug 2011

No response so far. Should I repost this to the General forum and request it stay there? Or is this really an Office question, but nobody knows the answer?

Irene · 05 Aug 2011

Hi pokeefe0001

My guess is, that your post was move to the 'Office Forum' because 'Word' is part of the 'Office Suite'.

Also, in my opinion your 'Word' is behaving exactly as it should.

Wikipedia on SDI:
Single document interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia :)

pokeefe0001 · 05 Aug 2011

Irene said:

... in my opinion your 'Word' is behaving exactly as it should.

Wikipedia on SDI:
Single document interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia :)

I agree that Word is working as it should. However, I'd like to know if Word is

working as required by SDI
working as allowed by SDI (optional behavior)
working as an exception to the SDI standard.

There is a brand-x product that terminates when its last (or only) document is closed. The vendor claims this is as required by SDI compliance. The vendor further states that Word also behaves this way - which does not seem to be the case ... thank heavens.

I had already glanced at the Wikipedia article, but could not find the answer to my questions. (The answers may be there, but I missed them.)

Irene · 05 Aug 2011

I have not been able to find any references - yet - to SDI in Word 2010. However, I did find this:
Several features that affect macros have been changed from Word 97 to Word 2003

I realise that this is a couple of versions back, but may mean something to you (although I must admit, not to me

).

pokeefe0001 · 05 Aug 2011

I saw that, or something very much like it, before. I understand that Word has changed back and forth between SDI and MDI a couple times but don't know the expected behavior of either interface is with regards to file closure and program termination. <sigh>

Irene · 06 Aug 2011

This may be more relevant:
Usability Analysis – Office 2010 on Windows 7 | MKBlog

In the screen shot below, I can easily compare two word documents side by side using this Aero Snap feature.

Comparing Files using Aero Snap is easy because Word is SDI

pokeefe0001 · 06 Aug 2011

Maybe I'm being blind or dense, but I don't see how that helps. I know Word uses SDI. I want to know how Word's behavior of staying active when it last open document is closed (as it should in my opinion) fits into the SDI standard.

Is it mandatory?
Is it optional?
Is it an exception?

If that behavior is either mandatory or optional I want to show that part of the SDI standard to a software vendor. If it is an exception to the SDI standard I owe the vendor an apology.

Irene · 06 Aug 2011

pokeefe0001, I really wish I could help you further, but I regret that I am not able.

Maybe someone else will have a contribution.