Hello rmcray, I share your pain, I think this may be the answer/work-around you are looking for? The key is that TT "remembers" a tax file when it is saved. Only then will it be displayed as a tax file icon/option when TT is started again. Sadly, I see no option to reset this manually, as is the norm for software (as you have pointed out).
Here is my scenario - I completed and filed my return. Then today, I decided to relocate the directory that holds the TT return files (*.taxYYYY). Of course, now when I start TT, it does not display/find the tax file.
Now, if I open Windows Explorer, and navigate to the new location of the tax file, and "open it" (click on it), it will come up in TT. But, when I exit TT, it asks me to save the file, and if I do not save the file, it will not "remember" it. And, here is an additional requirement of my own - I did not want to save it, because I did not what the date/time of the file to change (as seen in Windows Explorer).
So, here is what I did:
- Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the new location of the tax file.
- Create a folder (ex. Tmp), and copy the tax file into the Tmp folder (which preserves its date & time)
- Open TT with the tax file in the new location (either click on the tax file OR open TT and File-Open and find it)
- Exit TT and save the tax file when prompted. You may then want to re-open TT from the Start menu to prove that the tax file icon is now listed on the TT "home" page. Re-Exit TT.
- Back in Windows Explorer, you will see the tax file date/time has been updated (in the new location).
- Delete the file in the new location and copy the file over from the Tmp folder.
- Open TT from the Start menu, and you should see the tax file icon to select, AND the tax file date & time should be as it was.
- Note: I had to do this twice, but it worked after the second try.
I realize my scenario adds the twist of preserving the date & time of the tax file, but I trust this is helpful anyway.
Take care
