Mark up area, and file open in Word when it isn't

[Steve Hayes]

I'm not sure if this is a Word thing or a Windows thing.

I have Word 2010 on my laptop computer, running under Windows 7.

I have several Word files that open normally, but there is one that I wanted
to move and rename, but I can't do it, because it says the file is open in
Word, when I haven't opened it. Even if I reboot it does that.

There is another file that opens with a blue stipe down the righthand side,
and if I hover the cursor there it says "markup area" - how can I get rid of
it? Does it serve any purpose? How come one file has it and others don't?

 

[Stefan Blom]

Display hidden files and folders in Windows and see if you can find a file
with a name that is similar to the problem document but starts with a dollar
sign and a tilde. This is the so-called lock file. Delete that file with
Word closed, and you should be able to open the original *.doc again.

To get rid of the markup area, you'll need to remove comments, accept or
reject all changes in a document and then turn off the Track Changes
feature. See
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/sharing/howtrackchangesworks.html#HowToRemoveTrackedChanges.

-- 
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP




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"Steve Hayes" wrote in message

I'm not sure if this is a Word thing or a Windows thing.

I have Word 2010 on my laptop computer, running under Windows 7.

I have several Word files that open normally, but there is one that I wanted
to move and rename, but I can't do it, because it says the file is open in
Word, when I haven't opened it. Even if I reboot it does that.

There is another file that opens with a blue stipe down the righthand side,
and if I hover the cursor there it says "markup area" - how can I get rid of
it? Does it serve any purpose? How come one file has it and others don't?

 

[Nil]

I'm not sure if this is a Word thing or a Windows thing.

I think they're Word things.

I have Word 2010 on my laptop computer, running under Windows 7.

I have several Word files that open normally, but there is one
that I wanted to move and rename, but I can't do it, because it
says the file is open in Word, when I haven't opened it. Even if I
reboot it does that.

Look for a hidden file, probably in the same directory as the original.
It will have a slightly different name, maybe with a tilde, but should
be recognizable as being associated with the original. Sometimes Word
crashes and leaves a lock file that interferes with the original. If
all else fails, just use Save As to save to a different location, then
try to delete the original.

There is another file that opens with a blue stipe down the
righthand side, and if I hover the cursor there it says "markup
area" - how can I get rid of it? Does it serve any purpose? How
come one file has it and others don't?

I think that has to do with Word's Tracked Changes or Revision Marks
features. You may have accidentally turned on the option to display
them. I don't know specifically how that's done or how to turn them
off, but check the Word's Help system.