How to Sort Files in the Open Dialog Box in Word

When viewing documents in the Open dialog box in Microsoft Word 2003 you can easily sort the documents to be displayed the way you would like to view them. Files can be sorted by date modified, file type, name and size. Follow the steps below to find out how you can sort files in the Open dialog box in Word.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Word 2003

Instructions

1. Start Microsoft Word 2003, and open an existing document or start a new, blank document.

2. Choose the "File" menu, and click "Open" to display the "Open" dialog box. Use the "Look in" drop-down list near the top of the dialog box to browse to find the files that you want to sort.

3. Click the "Views" button on the top, right side of the "Open" dialog box to display a drop-down list of ways you can view the files in the dialog box.

4. Select "Properties" from the "Views" drop-down list to display the full properties for the files shown in the "Open" dialog box. The name, size, type and date modified will be displayed for the files.

5. Sort your files by clicking on a heading in the "Open" dialog box. Clicking on "Name" once will arrange the files alphabetically, while clicking on it twice will arrange the files in reverse-alphabetical order. Clicking on "Size" once will put the smallest file at the top, while clicking on it twice will put the largest file at the top. Click on "Type" to sort the files into the type of program to which they belong. Click the "Date modified" heading once, and the oldest document will be brought to the top, while if you click it twice, the newest document will be brought to the top.