|
These tips should work in most versions of Word.
This information below was tested for Word 95, but we haven't verified that everything works the same in later versions. Many of the concepts are the same, so a lot of it is still useful. For good or ill, Word remains basically Word.
Most of us can't remember the laundry list of shortcut keys in Word (or any other program). Here's the short list of the best shortcut keys to know. If you learn only these key combinations, you're guaranteed to save time.
- Ctrl+X, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V = Cut, Copy and Paste respectively. These work in virtually every Windows program. Learn them, use them, save LOTS of time and mousing around in the Edit menu.
- Ctrl+B = Apply Bold. Highlight text then click Ctrl+B...voila insto-bold.
- Ctrl+I = Apply Italic. Same idea as adding bold, except it adds italic instead.
- Ctrl+Y = Repeat the last action. Say you just added a row to a table. Click Ctrl+Y and add another one. Keep doing it and add a whole bunch of them.
- Ctrl+spacebar = remove all local formatting. If text looks weird, it could be because you accidently added something. It's also good consistency. You can make sure that the only formatting you're applying is the stuff you've set up in your styles.
- Shft+F3 = Toggles case. If you know people who type in all upper case, you have my permission to rip the Caps Lock key off their keyboard. In the meantime, use Shift+F3 to switch case from UPPER, lower, and Initial Caps.
- Ctrl+Home, Ctrl+End = Move to the top and bottom of a document, respectively.
- F8 + arrow keys = Select text. Sometimes selecting large bodies of text with the mouse is a big pain. Use F8 in conjunction with the arrow keys or Page Up and Page Down keys to select it more easily.
Return to top
To change the default character formatting:
- Choose Format, Font.
- Choose a font name in the Font box, change the size, or change formats.
- When you finish changing the default formatting, click the Default button.
- When Word displays a dialog box asking you to confirm that you want to change the default font for the current template, click Yes.
Word immediately makes changes the current document. If Word later asks you to confirm changes when you close the document, choose the Yes button again.
Return to top
Many people don't realize that you can open templates just like you open other documents.
- Choose File, Open and change the Files of type drop-down box to Templates (*.dot).
- When the template is open, choose Format, Style. Click a style and choose Modify. Be sure that Add to template is checked.
- Make any other changes to styles or the template.
- Save and close the file. When you save the template, any new documents using the Normal template will reflect the changes you made in the Normal.dot file.
In Word 6/95, if you want your older documents that use the Normal template to reflect the changes you made, you need to open the files and "reattach" your new Normal.dot by selecting File, Templates and clicking the Attach button. You need to make sure that the "Automatically Update Document Styles" box has an X in it. (The little X is the key.)
The process is similar in later versions of Word. Choose Tools, Templates and Add-Ins. Click Attach and choose the template. Then click Open. Again make suare you check the Automatically update document styles check box in the Templates and Add-Ins dialog box. Any styles in the document with the same names will be updated with the formatting changes you made to the template.
Return to top
Former WordPerfect users often have a slew of files that they've organized by file extension (such as .ltr for letter). Unfortunately if you try and save MyFile.ltr, recent versions of Word insist on appending .doc so you end up with MyFile.ltr.doc, which looks stupid and is hard to read.
If you enclose your filename in double quotes, such as "MyFile.ltr" when you type the filename in the Save As box, you can name your file anything you want.
Return to top
You can format the text by selecting Format, Borders and Shading. Click on the Shading tab and change the color to Solid 100%. If the font color is set to Auto, it will change to white. If not, go into Format, Font and change the text to white.
Note that this technique makes a black bar that runs across the entire width of the page. If that's what you want, you're done. If not, you could create a single row table with 3 columns. Format one cell as black and leave the others blank. Adjust the columns to force your text where you want it.
Return to top
Information from Word 95 Days
Back in the days of Word 95, Susan Daffron was a Word MVP (Most Valuable Professional, a designation from Microsoft), so she learned more than she ever wanted to know about how to force Word to create long documents. Because so many people still use older versions of Word, we decided to post a couple of these oldies, but goodies. As many of the concepts are still the same, users of other versions of Word may glean some useful information. (Heck, conceptually Word hasn't changed much since version 2.0, so who knows some of this stuff might be applicable forever.)
- Creating long documents without pain. Word's master document "feature" (and we use that term loosely) was seriously broken in Word 6 and 95. This document explains how you can create stable documents without dealing with the evils of master documents.
- Using Word styles.Most people don't take advantage of Word's styles, which is a shame because they are very powerful. Once you know the basics, styles will make your documents more consistent and easier to work with.
- Understanding Word templates.Getting an idea of how a Word document is constructed and what role templates play makes Word much easier to comprehend.
- Speedy ways to work with text.Typing repetitive text can be dull. Really dull. This page gives you tips on using AutoCorrect, AutoText and Find and Replace to make the chore less onerous.
Return to top
|
