If there are no tracked changes or comments in your document,
then Final view would look the same as Final Showing Markup view.
Word 2003 opens to Final Showing Markup view to let you know
that your document contains tracked changes and/or comments, and
to save you possible grief from inadvertently sending the
document out that way. But if you really want to turn this
feature off, you can by clicking on Tools | Options | Security |
uncheck the "Make hidden markup visible when opening or saving"
box | OK.

Ken Isaacson wrote:

Office Word 2K3

A document always opens to "Final Showing Markup." How do I default it to
opening "Final"?

I've tried changing the view, and then saving the document, but that doesn't
work.

Thanks.
Ken