How do I turn off the "getting started" column in MS Word?

[frankjacks]

In previous versions of Word, the informational column that appears the first
time the application is used would not reappear the next time you opened
Word. In my new computer and Office 2003 installation, I can't figure out how
to get rid of the "getting started" column.

 

[garfield-n-odie]

Hi, frankjacks. In Word, click on Tools | Options | View | uncheck the
"Startup Task Pane" box | OK. Word 2003 doesn't always honor this setting;
if the task pane continues to appear, you can install the Task Pane
Controller from http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/ShowTaskPane.htm .