A new instance of Word appears to run when you create or open an additional document in Word 2000 and in later versions of Word

In Microsoft Windows XP, there is an option called
Group similar taskbar buttons (right-click the Windows taskbar, and then click Properties). With this option selected (default), you can group multiple buttons into one button.


For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

281629 Description of the "Group similar taskbar buttons" option

You can start a second instance of Microsoft Word when you are using a command-line switch.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

210565 How to use startup command line switches to start Word 2007, Word 2003, Word 2002, and Word 2000

Because Word 2000 uses true SDI technology and no longer supports MDI, SDI cannot be turned off in Word 2000. Other Microsoft Office 2000 applications, such as Microsoft Excel 2000, can support MDI. Therefore, SDI can be turned off in those applications.



The ability to turn off SDI was added to Word in versions of Microsoft Office that are later than Office 2000. MDI is now supported in Word and in the other Office applications. This functionality is controlled by the Windows in Taskbar option.

To turn SDI on or off, follow these steps, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running:

Microsoft Office Word 2007

1. Click the Microsoft Office Button, click Word Options, and then click Advanced.
2. Under Display, click to select (or click to clear) the Show all windows in the Taskbar check box.
3. Click OK

Microsoft Office Word 2003 and earlier versions of Word

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. On the View tab, click to select (or click to clear) the Windows in Taskbar check box, and then click OK.

Benefits of SDI

The Single Document Interface provides the following benefits:

Improved navigation

Some users found the Window menu in earlier versions of Word to be counter-intuitive. Documents became "lost" behind other open documents, and document window management was confusing to use. Having each document in a separate window with a Microsoft Windows taskbar icon for each document makes navigation easier.

Improved performance in WordMail

Note This section does not apply to Word 2007. Word 2007 is the only e-mail editor in Outlook 2007.

The Single Document Interface makes it easier and more convenient to send messages directly from Word.

For additional information about Single Document Interface and Word 2000, Word 2002 and Word 2003, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

220288 A full-screen view window changes to a non-full-screen view window if you arrange all windows in Word 2000, Word 2002, and Word 2003

199666 Windows NT Task Manager shows all SDI documents

209709 Windows.Count returns the value 1 in Word 2003, Word 2002, and Word 2000

211385 Find and Replace won't use buttons on Formatting toolbar in Word

224717 A document opens in a new window when you click a hyperlink in Word 2003, Word 2002, or Word 2000

238392 Custom toolbar disappears after mail merge

232465 Converting macros from Microsoft Word 97 to Microsoft Word 2000

827889 Several features that affect macros have been changed from Word 2000 to Word 2003

827890 Several features that affect macros have been changed from Word 97 to Word 2003