Open Word document as read-only (one-off)

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Previously I covered how to set a Microsoft Word document to open read-only as standard. Now, here's a tip on how to open a Microsoft Word document in read-only mode on just a one-off basis (Word 2003, but I think it's similar in 2007).

When you choose the menu File > Open, single left click on the document you want to open on a read-only basis on this occasion.
Next, on the bottom right of the File Open dialog box, click the down arrow to the right of the "Open" button, outlined in red in the pic below:
Then in the menu that comes up, pick "Open Read-Only", and that's it, the selected document will now open in readonly form!

It's somewhat tucked away, isn't it? Well here's another trick - if you want to open a Word document as read-only through Windows Explorer or My Computer, there's also a way: just hold down the Shift key, rightclick on the filename, and there'll be an "Open as Read-only" option in the rightclick context menu, which you can select (works in Vista anyway):

Labels: Microsoft Office, tips, Windows

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1 Comment(s):

Very useful, thanks!
Why can't the build-in-office-help give such clear answers? ;-)

The only thing still missing is a way to create a link to a dokument that opens it read-only.

(By Anonymous, at 20 July, 2011 15:49) Edit Comment