Open

Use the Open dialog box to browse to and open a file. Some Microsoft Office programs assign a different name to the Open dialog box to clarify the purpose of the dialog box. For example, in Microsoft Office OneNote, the Open dialog box is called Open Notebook.

Microsoft Office Access

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

  Note Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

  My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
  • Open To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
  • Open Read-Only To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
  • Open Exclusive To open a database and prevent others from using the database while you have it open, click Open Exclusive.
  • Open Exclusive Read-Only To open a database both while preventing others from opening it and preventing you from making changes, click Open Exclusive Read-Only.
• Cancel To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

Microsoft Office Excel

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

  Note Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

  My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
  • Open To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
  • Open Read-Only To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
  • Open as Copy To create a copy of the file as you open it, click Open as Copy. Changes you make to the file are made to the copy and not to the original.
  • Open in Browser To display the file in your Web browser, click Open in Browser.
  • Open and Repair If a file has been damaged and you cannot open it by normal means, click Open and Repair to open the damaged file.
• Cancel To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

Microsoft Office OneNoteOneNote has two versions of the Open dialog box:

• File Open You can use this dialog box to open OneNote Sections.
• Open Notebook You can use this dialog box to open OneNote Notebooks.

File Open The following are the elements that are contained in the File Open dialog box.

• Look in In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

  Note Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

  My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
  • Open To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
  • Open Read-Only To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
• Cancel To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

Open Notebook The following are the elements that are contained in the Open Notebook dialog box.

• Look in In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

  Note Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

  My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open Click Open to open the selected file.
• Cancel To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

Microsoft Office OutlookOutlook has two versions of the Open dialog box:

• Open Calendar You can use this dialog box to open a calendar in the legacy (.vCal) format or in the new Internet Calendar (.iCal) format.
• Open Outlook Data File You can use this dialog box to open a Personal Folder file (.PST).

Open Calendar The following are the elements that are contained in the Open Calendar dialog box.

• Look in In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

  Note Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

  My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• OK Click OK to open the selected file.
• Cancel To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

Open Outlook Data File The following are the elements that are contained in the Open Outlook Data File dialog box.

• Look in In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

  Note Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

  My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• OK Click OK to open the selected file.
• Cancel To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

Microsoft Office PowerPoint

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

  Note Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

  My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
  • Open To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
  • Open Read-Only To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
  • Open as Copy To create a copy of the file as you open it, click Open as Copy. Changes you make to the file are made to the copy and not to the original.
  • Open in Browser To display the file in your Web browser, click Open in Browser.
  • Open and Repair If a file has been damaged and you cannot open it by normal means, click Open and Repair to open the damaged file.
• Cancel To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

Microsoft Office Project

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

  Note Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

  My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
  • Open To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
  • Open Read-Only To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
  • Open as Copy To create a copy of the file as you open it, click Open as Copy. Changes you make to the file are made to the copy and not to the original.
• Cancel To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

Microsoft Office Publisher

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

  Note Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

  My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
  • Open To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
  • Open Read-Only To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
  • Open in Browser To display the file in your Web browser, click Open in Browser.
• Cancel To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

  Note Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

  My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
  • Open To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
  • Open In New Window To open a Web page in a new instance of Office SharePoint Designer, click Open in New Window.
• Cancel To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

Microsoft Office Visio

Following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

  Note Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

  My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
  • Open To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
  • Open Original To open a file with full read-write access, click Open Original. This option functions no differently from Open.
  • Open as Copy To create a copy of the file as you open it, click Open as Copy. Changes you make to the file are made to the copy and not to the original.
  • Open Read-Only To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
• Cancel To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.

Microsoft Office Word

The following are the elements that are contained in the Open dialog box.

• Look in In the list, click a location where the file that you want to open is stored. Use the Look in list to move up one or more levels in the folder structure.
• Previous folder As you move through the folder structure in the Files list, this button enables you to go back to the previous folder that you viewed.
• Up one level Click this button to look in the folder that is up one level in the current folder structure.
• Delete Click this button to delete the selected file or folder.
• Create new folder Click this button to create a new folder within the current folder.
• Views Click the arrow next to this button to display file and folder view options.
• Files This list displays the folders and files contained in the folder that is displayed in the Look in list.
• File name Type or select the name of the file that you are opening.
• Files of type In the list, click the name of the file format of the file that you want to open. Most Microsoft Office programs can open files of more than one format, so you may need to specify the format of the file that you want.
• My Places Click a shortcut on the My Places bar to go to the location represented by the shortcut.

  Note Your My Places bar might be different from what is shown because you can add, remove, or rearrange the shortcuts. For more information, see Organize quick file access by using the My Places bar.

  My Places bar. The My Documents shortcut is selected.

• Tools Click Tools to display a list of tasks that you can perform.
• Open Click Open to open the selected file. Many Microsoft Office programs add options for opening files to the Open button. An arrow next to Open indicates that a list of options is available. Click the arrow to display the options. Different Microsoft Office programs have different options.
  • Open To open the file with full read-write access, click Open.
  • Open Read-Only To open the file in a mode that prevents you from making changes to the file, click Open Read-Only.
  • Open as Copy To create a copy of the file as you open it, click Open as Copy. Changes you make to the file are made to the copy and not to the original.
  • Open in Browser To display the file in your Web browser, click Open in Browser.
  • Open with Transform When you are opening an Extensible Markup Language (XML) file and you need to apply an Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) Transformation file to the XML file, click Open with Transform and browse to the XSL file that you need.
  • Open and Repair If a file has been damaged and you cannot open it by normal means, click Open and Repair to open the damaged file.
• Cancel To go back to the program without opening a file, click Cancel.