Renaming a Document

Summary: Want to rename a document that is already on your hard drive? You can, of course, do it in Windows, but you can also do it in Word itself by using the Open dialog box. This tip explains the process you can use. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, Word 2003, and Word 2007.)

There is no intrinsic command within Word that allows you to rename documents or files, as there is in some other programs. It is true that you can simply save a document out under a new name, but that results in two files on your drive instead of one. You can use the following steps to rename a document quickly and easily, all within Word:

Make sure the document you want to rename is not loaded into Word. (Close it if it is loaded.)
Click on the Open tool on the toolbar, or choose Open from the File menu, or (in Word 2007) click the Office button and choose Open. You will see the Open dialog box.
In the list of files contained in the dialog box, right-click on the one you want to rename. This displays a Context menu for the document.
Choose Rename from the Context menu. The document name is highlighted, and you have the opportunity to change the name.
Once the document name is changed, press Enter.
Close the Open dialog box by clicking on Cancel.

Tip #1115 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

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Renaming a Document