Hi,

How can I add My Documents to the list of places under File ->"Open" and "Save as" in Office 2013 applications?

Users in my organization are truly frustrated by having to click on "Computer" and then choosing the "My Documents" folder every time they need to access their My Documents.  Any suggestions?

Thanks!

-sul.

The Default Local File Location under File->Options->Save is the user's My Documents folder.   How does this relate to my problem?

To reiterate my initial question, the default choices under File are: Recent Documents, Skydrive, Computer and Add a Place.  I just need our organization's users to be able to add "My Documents" to appear as one of the choices above.  Possible or not?

-sul.

I just meant that the Open dialog box displays the content of the folder defined as the Documents location in the File Locations dialog box. (This is true as long as you don't manually select a different folder within a Word ses

• Marked as answer by Sul Wednesday, May 01, 2013 2:57 PM
• Unmarked as answer by Sul Wednesday, May 01, 2013 6:43 PM

We are apparently talking about different things here... :-(

I recommend that you Unmark your reply as Answer; that way, other people may notice the thread and assist you further.

Inside the Open dialog, make sure they have the "navigation pane" open (Organize drop down button ) > Layout > Navigation Pane turned on.

Under the "Desktop" icon navigate to the folder you want to add to "Favorites".  Right click and drag the folder up to the "Favorites" portion of the pane. Release.  You can also rename the favorites to make them more descriptive.

OK, the first part of my instructions tell how to display that view/pane in the Open dialog:

Inside the Open dialog, make sure they have the "navigation pane" open: Organize drop down button ) > Layout > Navigation Pane turned on.

OK, that is the "new & improved" backstage version of the dialog.  When there, if you click on "Computer", you'll see a list of recent Folders.

I was talking about the "old" file open dialog.  Go into File menu > Options command > Advanced Option.

In the Save option turn on "Don't Show Backstage when opening or saving files". Now you will see the old Open and Save Dialogs

As well, while you are in Options, Scroll down to the "Display" section. There you can tweak the "show this number of Recent Document" and "Show this number of Unpinned Recent Folders" to fill the screen.

This is what I was talking about

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=E9A78C332557256F!315&authkey=!ACGh0ML35txxc9k

<iframe src="https://skydrive.live.com/embed?cid=E9A78C332557256F&resid=E9A78C332557256F%21315&authkey=AGojqjLL2GyIho0" width="320" height="283" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>

When you have that view, you can create favorites by dragging.

This link has a few more related tips

5 Tips to Customize File Save / File Open Page in Microsoft Office 2013 Applications

http://www.askvg.com/5-tips-to-customize-file-save-page-in-microsoft-office-applications/

• Edited by Rohn007MVP, Banned Thursday, May 02, 2013 9:46 PM

Thanks!

I think your 'turn off backstage' suggestion does indeed work for those who prefer and know about keyboard shortcuts (ctrl-o/ctrl-s) or can program the quick access toolbar to include open and save.

My question is actually about adding My Documents to this 'new' backstage menu and so far all answers and searches on the web lead to: not possible.  I wish MS will realize or understand this need, since most users aren't savvy enough (in my opinion and based on feedback from within my organization) to use keyboard shortcuts or quick access toolbar to open or save since, it is not blatantly in front of them like the File menu.

Many thanks for the references and the screenshot.  I truly appreciate the response.

-sul.

OK.

Assuming they have gone to the "My Documents" folder already.

Open the "open" backstage view.

Click on Computer to show the "recent folders" list

Hover the mouse over the "my Documents" folder entry, you will see a light blue highlight bar, and at the end of the bar a graphic of a "push pin".  Click on it.

The now "pinned" folder jumps to the top of the list and displays a "pin" icon.

Tada ...

Is that what you are looking for?

thanks!  unfortunately, no.  I am looking for a way to add My Documents to the list underneath the word Open (I do not know what that list is called).  Anyway, the list by default contains Recent Documents, Skydrive, Computer, and Add a place.  Like I said before, from what I have found, it seems there is absolutely no mechanism to add My Documents to this list and I sure hope MS will someday recognize the need.

Thanks,

-s.

Can you make a screen capture, or diagram showing exactly what you want to do?  I just can't picture it.

If what you want to do is place it directly under the Open command in the File menu it would not be easy.  The only slight possibility I can think of would be to create custom ribbon XML code to modify the "Backstage Pane".  I

Customize the Office User Interface in Office 2010

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff468686.aspx

Updated: September 9, 2010

This article lists resources that will help you customize the Microsoft Office Fluent user interface (UI) in Microsoft Office 2010 applications.

Microsoft introduced the ribbon extensibility model in the 2007 Microsoft Office system as part of the Office Fluent UI. This was a new way to customize the user interface and create custom tabs and groups that were specific to users needs. Office 2010 extends the span of the UI extensibility platform by providing support for customization of the new Microsoft Office Backstage view.

Customize the Backstage view

In Office 2010, the Microsoft Office button is replaced by the File tab. The File tab brings you to the Backstage view. The Backstage view is customizable and lets organizations customize the UI to suit their needs.

For information about how to use and customize the Backstage view, see the following resources:

Introduction to the Office 2010 Backstage View for Developers (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=182189  http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee691833%28v=office.14%29.aspx

Customizing the Office 2010 Backstage View for Developers (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=184245 )

Change the Ribbon in Excel 2007 or Excel 2010

http://www.rondebruin.nl/ribbon.htm

<snip >

More RibbonX examples

You can download 8 Excel files here with basic RibbonX examples for Excel 2007 and Excel 2010. Download Example Excel files Last Updated : 27-June-2010

• Add custom group in built-in tab.xlsm
• Add menu and buttons to Backstage or Office Button.xlsm

</snip>

I haven't seen any documentation about customizing the 2013 backstage.

below is the screenshot you requested.   I was hoping it would have been a simpler solution than writing code.  Anyway, the examples you reference are for office 2010 and fairly broad or academic.  If you happen to come across something more ready-to-adopt as a solution, please feel free to share.  thanks again!

-s.

So where in that screen capture do you want the new entry?

The "old" references are still relevant, if you can find any.  You have all that I have.

bump

Microsoft skydrive is useless but that is available and not my docs. useless if you ask me.

• Edited by ryanhark Wednesday, August 21, 2013 9:06 PM

The best way I can figure out how to do this is...

First, turn backstage off.  Goto Word options, Save Options and tick the box that says "Don't Show the Backstage when opening or saving files."

Then you can add the open command to the Quick Access Toolbar at the top of Word menu bar.  Now when you click open it will just open the standard file explorer view and go to the documents folder.

However, if you click File, then open, it still brings up the new Word 2013 view.  I can't find a way of sticking a documents option directly under open.  Though you can pin the Documents folder under recent folders when you click on Computer.

It does work ok if you click Save though.

Hopefully this helps.

I agree with Sul. This dialog feature of 2013 is the worst file-open and file-save system MS has had. A huge step backwards from Office 2003.

I also come to the conclusion that there is no fix to this problem.

I agree with Sul. This dialog feature of 2013 is the worst file-open and file-save system MS has had. A huge step backwards from Office 2003.

I also come to the conclusion that there is no fix to this problem.

There is no push pin beside My Documents or Desktop

If you want to access the familiar Open dialog box directly, here's how to do it: Click File tab | Options | Save. Select "Don't show the Backstage when opening or saving files" and click OK.

In the future, use key Ctrl+O shortcut to display the Open dialog box, and you may also want to use F12 to display the Save As dialog box. In addition, you can add the Open and Save As buttons to the Quick Access Toolbar.

I think this may explain it more clearly:

In short "Add Place" does not allow you to add your choice of folder locations ("places"), only services offered by Microsoft.  It feels like Microsoft is forcing you to use their services and push their own products, rather than allowing the customer to choose what is best for their own needs and work flow.  My company wants to add both My Documents for each user, and commonly used company folders on our File Server, but we are unable to do so.