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Posted by Magic Beans (Member # 2183) on :
 
I just wanted to let everyone here know that for my day job (which I am definitely keeping) I am a computer applications instructor of all things Microsof Office.

If anyone has questions about accomplishing something or solving a nagging problem in MS Word, feel free to contact me directly. This is a small way in which I can contribute to the Hatrack community.
 


Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
 
That's a nice gesture.

And as long as we're not the subject, I learned something yesterday about MS Office for those of you who use it...the default margin width is 1.25", not 1" as standard manuscript format dictates. I've been sending off manuscripts with the wrong margin width for God-only-knows how long. To change that, you can do the complicated thing I did in modifying the templates (which first requires FINDING the templates, and MS doesn't seem to want you to do that. I actually found all the hidden directories I ran into highly offensive.) or you can hit the default button when you change it once. ("Now you tell me!" I said.)

Just wanted to add that little bit of help for any of you who got caught in the same trap as me...I know there has to be *someone* else out there....
 


Posted by Magic Beans (Member # 2183) on :
 
I've actually created a manuscript template that's separate from the normal template Word uses.

Create a blank document, change everything about it to conform to manuscript formatting, and the click File --> Save As.... Open the Save as type list underneath the File Name field, and choose Template. Name it Manuscript or something. Don't change the save location! It's going to put it in the templates folder, where it belongs. To use your template, click File --> New.... Your template will be under the General tab.
 


Posted by JOHN (Member # 1343) on :
 
Weird. Somehow I changed my default settings to 1 inch margins, douple space, courrier new, etc...

Don't how I managed it, though...
 


Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
 
Heh. You probably hit the "Default" button purely by accident after setting up your document some time or other.

I have to admit, back before computers got so insanely "user friendly", I was a lot less scared of them. I miss the old days when I would modify information stored on my hard disk with a magnet and a screwdriver...
 


Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :
 
My understanding, btw, is that 1" is considered a minimum margin size, not an absolute requirement. I use 3cm margins.

 
Posted by EricJamesStone (Member # 1681) on :
 
> I use 3cm margins.

I believe you should switch to 30mm instead.

 


Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
 
> I believe you should switch to 30mm instead.

GROAN...Smart a**. (I know better than being a dumb a**)
 


Posted by NewsBys (Member # 1950) on :
 
Actually, I had a problem with MSWord that has been puzzling me.
This has happened with just about every table I have ever made in Word. For some reason the table will break at odd points and start on a new page of the document. There is plenty of room on the page for the row, but suddenly it will just break and leave a huge blank spot in my table.
Under Table Properties, I have tinkered with the settings in several differant ways, but it still breaks for no good reason. Any clue what could be wrong or how to fix it?

[This message has been edited by NewsBys (edited October 11, 2004).]
 


Posted by Shanu (Member # 2195) on :
 
Is there any way to deactivate the automatic styles / formatting, e.g. heading 1, 2, 3, default paragraph font, etc... whilst I can see how they are handy, the fact the MS Word automatically formats what I write as I write is irritating to me, as it usually gets it wrong.

I'd rather be able to apply the styles myself, in my own time, or even just not bother with them altogether and do it manually...

Cheers!
 


Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
Get Word Perfect instead.
 
Posted by yanos (Member # 1831) on :
 
Go to Tools => Autocorrect options

to change autoformat bits and bobs.
 


Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
How about inserting section breaks so that headers for different sections can be different? I am editing an audit report in Word and although I am placing section breaks in, I cannot for the life of me get the @#$@##@ing headers to change.

Any ideas?

I do NOT love WORD, but it works if you know what you are doing. I suppose.
 


Posted by Magic Beans (Member # 2183) on :
 
quote:
Under Table Properties, I have tinkered with the settings in several differant ways, but it still breaks for no good reason. Any clue what could be wrong or how to fix it?

It might depend on what you're putting into the table and what style settings are applied to those things; e.g., checking "page break before" on a heading then putting that heading into a table.

Could also be as simple as accidentally inserting a page break when you didn't mean to. Page breaks can be deleted. You can see them in normal view in order to select and delete.
 


Posted by Magic Beans (Member # 2183) on :
 
quote:
How about inserting section breaks so that headers for different sections can be different?

You have to create all the different headers. You can't have a different heading 1 or whatever for one section vs. another. Format ==> Styles, then create a new style.
 


Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
Thanks MB. I'll go there and style away.

You DO understand that I meant Headers/Footers and not Headings, right?

[This message has been edited by mikemunsil (edited October 12, 2004).]
 


Posted by Warbric (Member # 2178) on :
 
Mike, here's a link covering that and more -Headers and Footers in Microft Word. I tested it out and it worked for me, so good luck.
 
Posted by Magic Beans (Member # 2183) on :
 
quote:
You DO understand that I meant Headers/Footers and not Headings, right?

Um... no, I did not. In that case, you can have different headers and footers within sections. Go to File ==> Page Setup and click the Layout tab. You can apply headers & footers to individual sections.
 
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
Thanks Magic! Thanks Warbric!
 
Posted by Shanu (Member # 2195) on :
 
Cheers for the tips!
 
Posted by Doc Brown (Member # 1118) on :
 
Magic Beans, you could be my new best friend.

My writer's group has sent lots of critiques using the "Reviewing" function in Word. I don't know much about it, I never even heard of it before my WG started using it, but it raises some questions.

When I use it on some submissions, my comments appear as cool little word balloons off to the right side. When I use it on other submissions all I get is a dorky text box at the bottom of the screen. From my POV I'm doing the same thing to all the docs.

Is this happening because the docs were originally written in different versions of Word? Is there something I can do to make my own view less confusing?

And most of all, can I change the color of hilighting when I select a passage for comment?

This has been driving me nuts. If you have the correct answer questions like this, I owe you a Scotch, or whatever you prefer.

[This message has been edited by Doc Brown (edited October 17, 2004).]
 


Posted by Magic Beans (Member # 2183) on :
 
quote:
When I use it on some submissions, my comments appear as cool little word balloons off to the right side. When I use it on other submissions all I get is a dorky text box at the bottom of the screen. From my POV I'm doing the same thing to all the docs.

Actually, if you look carefully, you may notice that you are in Normal view when comments appear in the review pane. You are in Print Layout view when you see the balloons. The document you're reviewing will open in whatever view its author saved it. You can change via the View menu or those tiny little buttons in the bottom left corner of your screen, next to the horizontal scrollbar.

quote:
And most of all, can I change the color of hilighting when I select a passage for comment?

Click Tools ==> Options. Click the Track Changes tab. Change whatever settings you want, including balloon color (I have Word 2003, but I think this is the same on older versions... if not, sorry to get your hopes up!).
 
Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
 
Help! Word is driving me nuts!

I know there is a way to have two different alignments on the same line, but I can't get it to work. It used to be as simple as highlighting the bit of text you wanted to send right and then clicking the button. Now, if you want half the line left-aligned and half the line right-aligned, there seems to be a secret process you have to use.

MicroSoft Help is an oxymoron, because it is less than helpful!!!!!!

[I will attempt to stop pulling out my hair and banging my head against the wall while cursing the plague unleashed by Bill Gates!]

[This message has been edited by Robyn_Hood (edited October 20, 2004).]
 


Posted by Rahl22 (Member # 1411) on :
 
How about this one?

Sometimes it bumps an entire paragraph to the next page to keep it together. That leaves too much whitespace at the bottom of the first page.

Is there a way to turn that off?
 


Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
 
Format...Paragraph...Line & Page Breaks...

Check to see what is checked.

Widow/Orphan Control: This will stop you from having one line of a paragraph either at the very bottom or very top of your page. For most documents you want at least two lines of a paragraph on each page. (I would recommend leaving this one on).

Keep Together: I can't remember what this one does; I never have it checked anyways.

Keep Lines Together: This will move an entire paragraph to the next page just to keep it togehter. (Usually leave this one off)

Page Break Before: more or less the same as last. (Usually leave this one off)

------

You can always play with the veritcal justification to avoid some white-space issues, but be careful, it can also be a pain in the butt. I would only use it with Widow/Orphan Control to adjust things slightly. If you use it with some of the others, it will spread your lines out noticibly.
[File...Page Setup...Layout...Vertical Alignment...Justified]

[This message has been edited by Robyn_Hood (edited October 20, 2004).]
 


Posted by Magic Beans (Member # 2183) on :
 
Robyn,

Alignment is an attribute of the entire paragraph. Therefore, there is no way to have part of a paragraph aligned one way, and another part aligned another way. To acheive a similar effect, however, you could create a two-column table and set the borders for zero so they won't print (you'll still be able to see them). You can then align the contents of the table cells any way you like.
 


Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
 
Thanks. I ended up just putting in Tabs.

I thought about going to the trouble of creating two columns, etc., etc., but for the sake of one line it seemed like more effort than it was worth.

Now that I think about it, it may have WordPerfct that you could manipulate the placement along the line.
 


Posted by Magic Beans (Member # 2183) on :
 
You know, I didn't even think of tabs, but that would do it for a very small amount of material.
 
Posted by rickfisher (Member # 1214) on :
 
For submissions, the widow/orphan should be OFF. This is one of the things that really annoys some editors, because it messes up the method they use for counting words. However, for a paper that you are going to hand in, it should be on, because it looks better.
 
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
 
That's something I would never have thought of. Good info, rickf!
 


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