WD: Removing Recently Used Names from File Menu (Word 1.x, 2.x)

ID: Q144035

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

The removal of the "Most Recently Used" list from the File menu may be necessary for security purposes in some work settings. If you do not want the "Most Recently Used" list to appear use the procedure appropriate for your version of Word.

MORE INFORMATION

Word 2.x

When a file is deleted from the disk or moved, its name may still be present in this list of names. If an unavailable file is selected, a message will appear stating that Word for Windows cannot find this file. Choose the Cancel button, and the file should be deleted from the list.

The removal of the "Most Recently Used" list from the File menu may be necessary for security purposes in some work settings. If you do not want the "Most Recently Used" list to appear in Word 2.0, you can add a parameter to the WIN.INI file under the [Microsoft Word 2.0] section to eliminate this list. The following setting disables the list of file names on the File menu: 

   NoFileCache=Yes
To set this option, use the following steps:

1. From the Tools menu, choose Options, and select the WIN.INI 

   category.
2. In the Application box, select Microsoft Word 2.0.

3. Type: NoFileCache, in the Option box.

4. Type: Yes, in the Settings box.

5. Choose the Set button to record the setting.

6. Choose the Close button.

Word 1.x

In Word 1.x, you can create a global AutoExec macro that replaces the file list with four empty files which you must create and save to the Word for Windows program directory before you use the macro.

NOTE: When you delete a file in Word 1.x, the functionality is the same as that of Word 2.0, described in the "Word 2.x" section of this article.

To do this, use the following steps:

1. From the File menu, choose New. Choose the OK button to create a 

   new document based on the Normal template.
2. From the Macro menu, choose Edit. Type AUTOEXEC in the Edit Macro 
   Name box, and select Global in the Show box. Choose the OK button.
3. In the macro-editing window, type the following macro text:

WARNING: ANY USE BY YOU OF THE CODE PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Microsoft provides this macro code "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. 

      Sub MAIN
         FileOpen .Name = "c:\winword\test1.doc"
         FileOpen .Name = "c:\winword\test2.doc"
         FileOpen .Name = "c:\winword\test3.doc"
         FileOpen .Name = "c:\winword\test4.doc"
         FileClose
         FileClose
         FileClose
         FileClose
      End Sub
4. From the File menu, choose Save All. When the dialog box prompts 
   you to save changes to Global:AUTOEXEC, choose the Yes button.
   Choose the Yes button again when prompted to save global glossary
   and command changes.
5. Create four new files and save them to the WINWORD directory with 
   the file names "test1.doc" through "test4.doc."

REFERENCES

For information about how to do this in later versions of Word, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q82107
   TITLE     : WD: Removing File Names from the Recently Used List on the
               File Menu
"Microsoft Word for Windows User Reference," version 1.x, page 120 "Using WordBasic," by WexTech Systems and Microsoft, pages 195, 200

"Microsoft Word for Windows and OS/2 Technical Reference," pages 170-171, 173

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 810

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Reference," version 1.1 (Document Number OB14328-0990), Page 120.

Additional query words: MRU

Last Reviewed: October 8, 1997