Word Processing

This outline covers Microsoft Word X for Macintosh and Microsoft Word XP for Windows.

Topical Outline

Getting Started

• Macintosh Users: Click here to learn about the Project Gallery in Office Macintosh. Use the <BACK> button in your browser to return to this page, do not use <Go Back>.
• Overview of the word processing screen
  • be sure you can find the:
    • title bar/menu bar
    • Viewing Toolbars and Customizable Menus
    • Ruler
    • typing or work area
    • status bar
    • Word's different “views”

Can you “think” like a word processor? what is a CHARACTER? what is a WORD? how many characters in the word CAT? when do you use the SPACE BAR? when do you use the RETURN / ENTER key? what is a PARAGRAPH? what is WORD WRAP? which key is equivalent to the BACKSPACE key on a typewriter?

Answers? Click here!

• Word processing basics 
• need help writing?
  • try Garbl's Writing Center
    • you should take the time to review this site!
      • an online Writing Resources manual
      • an online Editorial Style manual
      • an online Guide to Concise Writing
      • an online “Grammar Grappler”
      • and more!
  • try “Common Errors in English” a project of Dr. Paul Brians of Washington State University.

Create Your First Document

• type 3 paragraphs of text describing your favorite geometric figure, your family, what you did on your last vacation, etc.
• just be sure that
  1. each paragraph consists of a minimum of 3 physical lines
  2. you do not do any indentation, just type and
  3. you press <RETURN> / <ENTER> twice after each paragraph to insert a blank line between paragraphs 

Using the Example Practice Document from Above, Try the Following:

• Paragraph Formatting
  • formatting paragraphs using the ruler
    • other options for paragraph formatting
      • the Paragraph Dialog Box
      • bullets and numbering
      • borders and shading
      • Line Spacing
      • Justification and Margins (see also Page Setup below)
• Working with Tables
  • what is a table?
  • about aligning columns of numbers
  • creating tables by setting tab stops
    • using the ruler
    • using the Tab Dialog Box
  • creating tables using the Table command
• Revealing Formatting Codes (aka “Show/Hide Paragraphs”)
  • whenever you do any type of formatting, even just pressing <RETURN>/<ENTER>, or even when word wrap occurs, you are inserting formatting codes in the text
• Formatting Characters
  • using the ruler and/or keyboard shortcuts for character formatting
  • other options for character formatting
    • the Font Dialog Box
    • highlighting text

   

• Using Special Characters
• Rearranging text
• Checking Spelling and Grammar
• Find and Replace
• Using the Thesaurus

   

• Inserting the Date and/or Time
• Options for Changing Case
• using the Page Setup dialog box
• using Headers and Footers
• Pagination and page numbers
• Using Print Preview
• Creating and Using Hyperlinks
• Sorting Paragraphs
• Footnotes and Endnotes
• Inserting Pictures, Text Boxes, and Objects
  • Pictures
  • Text Boxes
  • Objects
• Creating Forms
  • About Forms in Word
  • Creating a New Form
  • Form Field Properties
  • Using Help Messages
  • Protecting Forms
  • Using and Printing Forms

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Copyright©2003
last updated August 12, 2003