OFF95: Inconsistent Default File Locations Under Windows NT

When you run Microsoft Office programs under Windows NT, the default file locations in Microsoft Excel and Office Binder are different from the default file locations in Word and PowerPoint.

This behavior only occurs under Windows NT. When you install the Office programs under Windows 95, the default file location (the directory to which files are automatically saved) in each of the programs is the My Documents folder on the drive to which you installed Microsoft Office.

Under Windows NT, the default file location in both Microsoft Excel and Office Binder is the My Documents folder on the drive to which you installed Microsoft Office as expected. However, the default file location in Word and PowerPoint is the folder to which you installed the individual programs, such as C:\Msoffice\Winword and C:\Msoffice\Powerpnt.

To change the default file location in one of the Microsoft Office programs (but not Binder), use the following appropriate steps:

In Microsoft Excel

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the General tab.
2. In the Default File Location box, enter the new default directory, such as c:\Worksheets. Click OK.

In Word

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the File Locations tab.
2. In the list of file types and locations, click Documents, and click the Modify button.
3. In the Modify Location dialog box, select the directory for the new default location, and click OK.
4. Close the Options dialog box.

In PowerPoint

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Advanced tab.
2. In the Default File Location box, enter the new default directory, such as c:\Slides. Click OK.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Office 97 for Windows.