Microsoft Word 2004 Quickstart
Microsoft Word is a word processing program which is powerful and flexible. Word uses standard Macintosh controls for manipulating windows and tools for creating and editing text, objects, pictures, and shapes. Some of Word's features include:
Page Layout and Print Preview Capabilities
Spelling, Grammar, and Thesaurus Utilities
Automatic Text Formatting and Stylesheets for quick and easy editing
Web and Collaboration Tools
To open the application, double-click on the Microsoft Word icon or on an existing Word document:
As soon as Word is launched, a window offering several templates appears - the Project Gallery. The default template, "Word Document", should suffice for most new document needs. Leave the default highlighted and single-click the OPEN button (oddly enough, the CANCEL button serves the same functionality) to quickly open a blank document.
Another way to open a new document after Word has been launched is to click on the NEW DOCUMENT button on the Standard Toolbar. The NEW DOCUMENT button is the first one on the left. Finally, you may also go to the FILE menu, and select NEW BLANK DOCUMENT.
To open an existing file after Word has been launched, from the FILE menu select OPEN, then navigate through the dialog box, and double-click on the desired file.
Another way to access this dialogue is from the Project Gallery; single-click the "Open Other..." button.
A Word Document's Window Components
Word Command Characteristics
The MENU BAR located at the top of your document contains commands which are listed in the pull down menus. Here are some behaviors you should keep in mind while working in Word:
If a command name appears dimmed (greyed), the command is not currently available.
If a check mark appears to the left of a command, the command is currently in effect.
To cancel a menu without choosing a command, simply move the pointer away from the menu and release the mouse button if it was already depressed. If the mouse button was not held down, click once outside of the menu area.
Many commands have short-cut key combinations which are listed to the right of the command in the menu. The COMMAND key (the one with the open apple icon) is used in combination with other keys to execute commands. For example, holding down the COMMAND key and pressing the S key simultaneously will save the file.
A command name that is followed by an ellipsis (...) displays a DIALOG BOX which requires that the user provide more information. Each dialog box may have one or more of the following features:
-Current drive information
-OPEN, SAVE, CANCEL, EJECT, DESKTOP, FIND FILE, NEW FOLDER buttons
-Folder and file selection lists - for navigating to the file you want to open, or the folder in which you would like to save a file
-FILE TYPE list
Now that you have a good idea of the underlying workings of Microsoft Word, you will want to learn about basic word processing and how easy it is to edit your text.
Microsoft Word 2004 Editing Tips & Tricks
Written by Teresa Hagan ; Updated by Jordan McDonnell '08