Closing a Document and Creating a New One

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 28, 2023)

When Glenn is done working with a document in Word, he often wants to close it and open a brand-new blank document. These are obviously two separate steps (close the open document and then create a new document). Since Glenn does this so often, he's wondering if there is a way that he can combine the two steps into a single step.

An easy way to do this is to simply use keyboard shortcuts. To close the current document and then create a blank document, first press Ctrl+W followed by Ctrl+N. This can still be considered two steps, however. And, if you need to save the document first (by pressing Ctrl+S), then it is three steps.

If you truly want it to be a single step, then the best solution is to create a macro to do the tasks. Here's a simple example:

Sub MyCloseCreate()
    ActiveWindow.Close SaveChanges:=False
    Documents.Add DocumentType:=wdNewBlankDocument
End Sub

The first line in the document closes whatever document is active, and then the second creates the brand-new document. Note the use of the SaveChanges parameter on the first line. This causes Word to close the document without saving any changes; if you want to save your changes by default, change the "False" to "True."

You should save the macro in your Normal template and then you can assign it to a shortcut key or add it to your Quick Access Toolbar. That way you can perform both steps with a single action.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13006) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Adding Automatic Lines

Want an easy way to add lines in your document? You can do it by making sure Word is using one of its AutoFormat features.

Discover More

Adding Text to an Envelope

Need to customize the way that Word prints envelopes? There are a couple of approaches you can use, as discussed in this tip.

Discover More

Sharing Headings with Others

Headings form the outline of your document and hopefully give it an easy-to-follow organization. If you want to share ...

Discover More

Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Opening a Word Document when Starting the Computer

Some people use their computers for little else, other than to work on Word documents. If that is the case with you, then ...

Discover More

Incorrect Page Counts Shown in Status Bar

A common statistic to see on the status bar is what page number you are working on in your document. If the page numbers ...

Discover More

Linking Word Documents

Want to add one document to another document? You can do it by adding links, described in this tip.

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is 3 + 1?

2023-01-28 05:10:48

KENT HANSEN

A special case that I have is closing a document and reopening the SAME document 4 times a day. (Document has a number of links that may opened and then processed via another macro).
Lots of code choices on the internet. I use the one below. (One QAT click vs File|Close|Don'tSave|File|Open|Select)

Sub Reopen()
'UpdatebyExtendoffice20171128
ThisWorkbook.Saved = True
ThisWorkbook.ChangeFileAccess xlReadOnly, , False
Application.Wait Now + TimeValue("00:00:01")
ThisWorkbook.ChangeFileAccess xlReadWrite, , True
End Sub

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.