Find and Open Documents and Databases

Click the Windows Start button, and then click Open Office Document, or click Open (File menu) in any Office application to find the documents and databases you want to work on. Use the buttons at the top of the dialog box to choose different views of a file, to connect to or change network drives, and more.

To find the files you want, type or select criteria in the boxes at the bottom of the dialog box. For example, type “Company History” (including the quotation marks) in the Text or property box to search for files containing these words.

You can also enter file properties, such as the author’s name, to narrow your search. If you use a file property, it must have been previously defined. For more information, see Make Your Documents and Databases Easier to Find.

Commands and Settings button

Search for a file in all folders and subfolders   In the Open dialog box, specify the file name, the file type, and any other search criteria. Click the Commands and Settings button, and then click Search Subfolders. Use wildcard characters to search for file names   In the File name box of the Open dialog box, type an asterisk (*) to match any number of characters, or type a question mark (?) to match any single character. For example, to find names that end with “region,” type *region; to find names spelled “grey” or “gray,” type gr?y. Open a file as a copy from Windows Explorer   In Windows Explorer, right-click a Microsoft Excel, Word, or PowerPoint file that you want to open as a copy, and then click New on the shortcut menu. In Microsoft Access, click Open as Copy on the shortcut menu. Rename or delete files   In the Open dialog box, select a file. Right-click the document, and then click the command you want.

Find Files, E-mail Messages, Attachments, and More

If you know what you want to look for but you’re not sure where it is, or if you want to search for several different kinds of items, use the Find command on the Windows Start menu. The Find command searches across folders and applications, gives you flexibility in specifying search criteria, and allows you to search for items on your hard disk and elsewhere. In addition to files, you can search for items such as e-mail messages, e-mail attachments, contact names, and appointments.

To use the Find command, click the Windows Start button, click Find, and then click Using Microsoft Outlook. For more information, see Search for Information.

Office Assistant button

Want to know more?   Look up Getting Results - About Documents and Databases in Help.