Word Startup Command Line Switches Page 1 of 1

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Microsoft Word
Word Startup Command Line Switches (All Versions) Word 2007
Template in Word
<path to Word>\winword.exe [/a] [/c] [/ltemplate name] [/n] [/m[macroname]]
[/t] [/w] [/x] [/regserver] [/unregserver] [filename] [filename] Word Document

Switch Meaning

Blank Starts a new Word window in an existing instance of Word.

/a Starts Word without a template (including startup addins) Word 6 only
Starts Word without a template (including startup addins) or options stored
inthe registry, Word 95, 97, & 2000. only
/c Starts Word and runs Netmeeting. Word 2000 only.
/l Load a specific addin Word 95, 97, & 2000 only
/n No new default document
/m Runs a macro [/mmacroname] or prevent autoexec from running [/m] Word
6, 95, 97, & 2000.
Run a macro [/mmacroname] Word 1 & 2 only
Cannot be used with the /t switch
/q [Added in Word 2000 SR1] (quiet start) will suppress the opening
splash screen.

/r shorthand for /regserver

/u shorthand for /unregserver
Both work in Word (but not in Excel), i.e. in Word 97 and 2000.
(MS lists /u as 'no effect' for Word 2000 though.)
/t Bases a new document on the specified document Word 95, 97, & 2000.
Starts the Tutorial Word 1 only
/w Without displaying Tip Of The Day Word 6 only
Starts a new instance of Word. Word 2000 only.
/x Starts a new instance of Word that only accepts one DDE conversation.
Used by the Windows shell for printing. Word 97 & 2000.
/regserver Registers Word in the registry. Word 95, 97, & 2000.
/unregserver Unregisters Word in the registry. Word 95, 97, & 2000.
Filename Opens a file
Filename Filename Opens multiple files Word 6, 95, 97, & 2000.

The office Startup Application is a small companion program with the

following command line switches. It also provides services for starting
Office Help and in 2000 performs a test to see if Auto Repair should run.

Word 97

\osa.exe [/b] [/f] [/n]

Word 2000

\osa9.exe [/b] [/f] [/l] [/n]

Switch Meaning

/b Initilises OLE and some fonts so OLE programs will start faster. It's
tuned for office programs and basically puts the OLE libraries into
the disk cache.
/f Displays the Open Office Document dialog box.
/l Checks to see if the Office Toolbar should be loaded at startup, and
if so start the Office Toolbar.
/n Displays the New Office Document dialog box.

Examples
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe Filename
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe Filename Filename
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe /a
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe /n
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe /m
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe Filename /mmacroname
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe /tDocumentPathAndName
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe /t
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe /lAddinPathAndName
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\winword.exe Filename /w

http://winhlp.com/WordCommandLineSwitches.htm 22/03/2011