Tools | Options | General: clear the check box for "Allow starting in
Reading Layout."

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Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
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"Mary Ann" wrote in message
...
How do I turn off the reading pane do that when I open a Word attachment
it
doesn't use it by default? I know I can close it once it's open but I
don't
want to use it in the first place.