Periodically, I go through the files in my Word directories to determine if any of the old documents can be safely deleted. Many times, I need to open the file to examine it before I can make a determination as to whether it should be deleted.
Of course, Word will let you delete a file listed in the Open or Save dialog boxes, but it will not delete the active document—the one that is open at the current time. Rather than close the active document and then delete it by opening the Open or Save dialog boxes, I use the following macro to delete a file that is open.
Sub DeleteThisFile() Dim MyFile As String MyFile = ActiveDocument.Path & "\" & ActiveDocument.Name If MsgBox(MyFile & " will be deleted permanently", _ vbYesNo, "Delete this File?") = vbYes Then ActiveDocument.Close (wdDoNotSaveChanges) Kill MyFile End If End Sub
The macro prompts you to make sure that you want to delete the file, and (if you do) it closes the document without saving and then deletes it. You should note that the file does not go to the Recycle Bin, but is immediately deleted.
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1346) 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: Deleting the Open Document File.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2013. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word 2013 Step by Step today!
Each day of using Word is filled with opening documents, editing them, and then saving those changes to disk. So it can ...
Discover MoreWhen working with lots of documents, you may have need from time to time to discover which of those documents contain ...
Discover MoreAt some point you may want to insert one Word document inside another Word document. An easy way to do this is to use the ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2019-06-25 10:05:52
p
Thank you, how to add command to close word application too?
2018-08-18 10:44:19
Manuel
Is it possible to delete by sending it to the recyble bib?
2015-06-22 03:39:13
verdun lowe
I wish to delete some documents from word 97 but I am uncertain how to do this I wish to leave no trace of these documents on the Computer
2015-04-10 15:32:45
JOHN FINNERTY
HI!!
I WANT TO DELETE TWO DOCUMENTS THAT I NO LONG WANT IN MY MICROSOFT WORD 2000 PROGRAM.
PLEASE "CALL" ME AT 631-334-4021 AND WALK ME THROUGH IT.
THANK YOU.
JOHN FINNERTY
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.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2021 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments