Microsoft KB Archive/159374

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OFF: Clicking Button on Office Shortcut Bar Starts a New Session

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Office for Windows, version 7.0
 * Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
 * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

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SYMPTOMS
When you click a button for a program on the Shortcut Bar for Microsoft Office 7.0 or 97, instead of switching to the currently running instance of the program, a new instance of the program is started.

CAUSE
This problem occurs on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows NT 4.0.

NOTE: This problem does not occur in Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows NT 3.51.

WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use either of the following methods:


 * Click the button on the taskbar for the program to which you want to switch.

-or-
 * Press and hold the ALT key, and then press TAB repeatedly, until the icon for the program to which you want to switch is selected. Then, release ALT.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION
Normally, when you click a button for a program on the Office Shortcut Bar, the Office Shortcut Bar checks to see whether an instance of the program is already running. If so, that instance of the program is activated; if not, a new instance of the program is started.

However, this functionality does not work under Windows NT 4.0. Instead of checking for an instance of the program that is running, the Office Shortcut Bar automatically starts another instance of the program. This prevents you from using the Office Shortcut Bar to switch between programs.

Additional query words: OFF7 OFF97

Keywords : kbtool offosb

Version : WINDOWS:7.0,97

Platform : WINDOWS

Issue type : kbbug

Technology :