Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Saving and Closing All Open Documents.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 24, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
In earlier versions of Word (Word 6 and Word 95), the File menu contained a Save All command, which was very helpful for saving all of your open Word documents in a single step. Beginning with Word 97, however, the Save All command was removed from the menu.
This left many people in a quandary—if you are working with a lot of documents at one time, how do you go about closing or saving all your documents? You could, if desired, simply exit Word. In the process, any open documents that are unchanged are closed and you are prompted about saving any that have changes. (The same goes if you select all the documents on the Windows Taskbar, right-click, and choose the command to close the tasks.)
Fortunately, there is a better and easier way. All you need to do is hold down the Shift key as you click on the File menu. The result is that the Save command changes to Save All and the Close command changes to Close All. Select one of these options and you can either save or close every open document you have, without the necessity of exiting Word.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1106) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Saving and Closing All Open Documents.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
Do you have a set "standard" for how you name new documents? If so, you may be interested in implementing the technique ...
Discover MoreManaging large numbers of documents in Word can lead to some interesting challenges. One potential challenge is that your ...
Discover MoreWhen you save your documents, Word doesn't normally make backups of your files. If you want the program to do that, it ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here:
Comments