File Menu

New

New creates a new, blank document.

Open

Opens an existing document so you can view or edit it. It opens a separate dialog box with which you can select the file to open.

Save

Saves the open document

Save As

Saves the open document under a different name

All of these menu options use the same dialog box

<Image of dialog>

The top is the path of the current directory that AbiWord is looking for your document in. Clicking it will drop down choices allowing you to move back one or more directories

<Image of expanded directory drop-down menu>

Directories / Files
The left box shows the subdirectories within the directory you are currently in. Double-clicking directory/ will move into the next directory. Double-clicking ../ will move into the previous directory. The right box shows the files within that directory. If the file you want to open is there, click on it and then click OK, or double-click and AbiWord will open the file.

<Image of directory / files dialog box>

Open file as type:
Use this drop-down menu to choose the file type that you are looking for e.g. if it is a Word document, click the menu and select Microsoft Word (.doc) and you will only see .doc files in the right (Files) box. This is useful if you have many different types of documents saved by limiting the number of files you have to look through.

<Image of expanded Open file as type menu >

Selection:
This shows the directory and file selection made. Beside Selection is shown the directory you are currently in, and under that is the edit-able box which shows the file that will be opened.
Hint: you can move between directories by typing in this box. Typing ../ then <Tab> will move back one directory. Typing in the first few letters of one of the directories listed in the Directories box, then <Tab> will move into that directory. Typing in the first few letters of the Document name then <Tab> will list the file. (note: it is case sensitive)

Ok
Use this button to open your document after you have found it. Or just hit enter on your keyboard once it is listed in the Selection box

Cancel
This button closes the Open dialog box without opening a file.