WinWord: Drop-Down List Boxes Stay Open When Not in Use

ID: Q80767

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Word for Windows, the drop-down list boxes in the Open dialog box remain open as you scroll through either the File Name box or the Directories box using the scroll bar. The Open dialog box contains two drop-down list boxes: the List Files of Type box and the Drives box.

MORE INFORMATION

To illustrate this behavior, follow the steps below:

1. From the File menu, choose Open.

2. In the Directories box, select a directory that has many

   subdirectories so that the box has active scroll bars.

3. Using the mouse, click the Drives drop-down arrow to open the
   Drives list.

4. Using the mouse, click the Directories list scroll arrow or click
   and drag the scroll box.

The Drives drop-down list box remains open.

You may expect the Drives list to close when you scroll through the Directories list; however, the Drives list is actually behaving in a manner consistent with Microsoft Windows conventions. Because the scroll bar is a navigation tool and NOT a piece of information, the drop-down list remains open. As soon as you select information somewhere in the dialog box, the open drop-down box closes.

You can demonstrate this behavior in the Windows environment by opening the Print Setup dialog box, either in Word for Windows or in the Windows Control Panel. If you open the Printer drop-down list box and scroll through the Cartridges box using the scroll bar, the Printer drop-down list box remains open.

KBCategory: KBSubcategory: Additional query words: winword2 6.0 6.0a 6.0c 2.0 dropdown word6 scrollbar winword thumb elevator

Version           : 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b 2.0c
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: February 6, 1998