(Edited 02 
2001
The Garlic Press)
| Exercise
3 |
Microsoft Word 2000 Advanced Editing
Looking Good With Microsoft Word 2000 (Edited 1/15/99)
|
|
The following
treats intermediate and some advanced functions in Microsoft Word 2000.
The choices of functions are based on those a college student might use.
It is a first draft and thus incomplete and possibly has errors. Suggestions
are appreciated. Additions and changes will be made when time is
available. This information is in separate files. Print as separate
files if you want a print version (I and II are in the same file III, IV
and V are separate files).
Introduction
Figure 1 (One Possible Word 2000 Startup Screen)
This treatment of Microsoft Word is intended for those who have some
familiarity with word-processing. If you are new to Word-processing it
is suggested that you review the document Word
Basics and Word Editing.
Now that we know the basics and some editing functions of Microsoft Word
(and any other word processing program for that matter), let's get into
some of the "bells and whistles" of word processing programs. Microsoft
Word can do a whole lot more than just make a simple document look better
than it would if it came out of a typewriter, Word can make simple documents
look like they have more to say than they really do.
Large corporations use Word for quarterly reports, newsletters, and
general office memos. And they all look as if they've been typeset by a
professional. Quarterly reports have indices and tables of contents: all
set up by the software. Newsletters and meeting minutes all have footnotes
for important information. These footnotes and end notes all appear in
the appropriate place–whether at the bottom of the page, the end of the
chapter, or the end of the document: all set up by the software.
The important thing to remember about the bells and whistles of Microsoft
Word is that ANYONE can do it. ANYONE. It does not require a college degree
to create a professional looking document (if it did, you wouldn't learn
the software until graduate school). So, when all else fails, if this tutorial
isn't as complete as you'd like it to be, it's because we'd like you to
experiment and learn about some things yourself. So, relax, take a deep
breath, and let's get started.
I. The
Ruler
| Because many people may share a computer with Microsoft Word,
it is possible that your version will open with the ruler and tools or
menu choices not showing. This is because it is very easy to change the
startup appearance of Word 2000. If the ruler is showing, there is no need
to choose the command from the menu. However, if this is your first time
with this tutorial, be sure and locate the Ruler command in the
View
menu so you will be familiar with it's location. If you want
to see other toolbars or menu choices check Viewing
Options. |
(1). View Ruler
(2). Margin and paragraph Indent
(3). Tabs
(1). View Ruler
Now for some specifics: setting up your page with "The Ruler." In order
to take a look at the ruler (a good place to start) we need to choose Ruler
from the View menu. Microsoft Word is like other word processors
that automatically show your ruler when you open the program, but it is
possible to hide it so we would need to choose Ruler from the menu
to see it. Now that we can see it, let's take a look at the ruler, it's
icons (symbols) and the ribbon.
Figure 2
(2). Margin and paragraph
Indent
See those two triangles 
at
the 0? Well, they represent your left margin, bottom triangle and paragraph
indent, top triangle. (Remember that Word assumes that the only time you
hit the RETURN key is when you are beginning a new paragraph.) The top
triangle is your paragraph indent (no more hitting the Tab key to indent
a paragraph–Word does it for you–if you tell it to), and the bottom triangle
is the left margin. The small box at the bottom of the triangles will move
the indent and margin triangles at the same time. If you continue your
eye to the right you'll see another triangle 
(HINT: this is your right margin). To change your ruler margins at any
time, click on the left or right icon and drag until the arrow points at
the desired position. An important thing to remember: the ruler governs
the paragraph you're in and all paragraphs you type below (as well), until
you change the ruler again. Any changes you make to the ruler will affect
the entire paragraph you are currently in and any subsequent paragraphs
you type.
(3). Tabs 
Figure 3
Looking to the bottom left side of the ruler you'll see one of four different
looking icons. This is your tabs maker. The first tab is the vertical line
with the tail to the right known
as a left-tab. Everything will line up on the left from the tab mark.
Clicking the tab icon will change it to the next tab type. The next tab
looks like a vertical line on top of another line
. This is a unique tab that aligns everything from the center of the tab
mark. Click again and the next tab does exactly the opposite of the left
tab. The up vertical line with
the dot to the right of it is
a tab that will line up decimal points. To place the tab type displayed
on the left of the ruler simply click on the ruler where you would like
the chosen tab to be on the ruler. If you would like to move it to another
position simply drag it where you would like it. To remove an existing
tab just drag off the ruler and it is gone. To see the result of each kind
of tab, check-out the sample below. The formatting was taken from a study
on the status and roles of American women.
Figure 4
One last thing before we finish with the ruler: the limits to your ruler
are much more then a standard page width. You will probably never use the
ruler to its limits as most people don't have a printer that will handle
a wide page. To see the text that has wrapped off the screen to the right,
click on the right arrow at the bottom of your screen; to view what's to
the , click on the left arrow at the bottom of your screen.