In a terminal, enter the following:
defaults write com.microsoft.Powerpoint NSQuitAlwaysKeepsWindows -bool false
defaults write com.microsoft.Word NSQuitAlwaysKeepsWindows -bool false
defaults write com.microsoft.Excel NSQuitAlwaysKeepsWindows -bool false
The same thing can be done for any application in Lion. In order to find the application preference name, look at the files names found here (minus .savedState): ~/Library/Saved Application State.
Et voila!
Ingenious!!!!!! Thanks for solving this annoyance!
Thank you!
Thanks a bunch!
Thank you so much ! This could not have been more annoying and pretty impossible to solve without you.
Thnx, Uros
Let me say that you are B I G !!!! Thank you a lot!!!
Or you can just change this option in system preferences:
Look in System Preferences > General > Restore windows when quitting and re-opening apps
Reply from Author: Yes but that would do it for all applications, not just Office
Sick! This has been driving me crazy for awhile now.
Brilliant solution to stupid annoyance!
Lovely stuff!
This has been driving me mad.
Thank you so much
it helped great job
Thank you sooooooo much!!
Solution in System Preferences does not solve the issue within Word. Even with Restore windows unchecked, Word disregards it.
I have the option unchecked in System Prefs but Word doesn’t follow the rule. I’ll try terminal but have never done this before…
You, sir, are my hero. Thank you.
This is ridiculous. Why should we have to learn to write code to make Apple’s computer behave the way a normal computer is supposed to behave? It’s an annoying new function of Lion, one of the worst frauds Apple has ever perpetrated upon its adoring customers.
This stunt and the aggravation of having Apple arrogantly disable an Acrobat program I depended on for my business are driving me back to the PC. The constant hassle with the Norton or McAfee is a pain, but at least Microsoft doesn’t do this sort of stupid thing, or disable key programs, or force you to shut off Java script to evade the current virus.
Absolutely amazing what Apple can get away with.
Thank you for this tip.
Btw, the System Preferences route does not seem to work for me either.
Hi! How do I write this on terminal? It didn’t work on mine.
Please let me know what it means to write something in a “terminal.’ Where do I find this? Thank you.
Terminal is in applications/ utilities.
Just copy and paste the text at the cursor point and press return.
Done !!
This didn’t work for me. When I start up word, excel, or powerpoint, they freeze up and don’t open. I did the same code with true to fix it.
[...] a quick cut and paste) then it is possible to stop Office reopening documents too. Head over to French Guys for full details on how to stop this annoying functionality. Share [...]
Fantastic – THE easy solution!! – THANKS!
(it is however incredible that you need to program in order to get rid of this annoying re-opening)
Thank you! Immense frustration has just been lifted!