Getting Started with Microsoft Word

This handout provides an introduction to Microsoft Word 97. It covers the Word interface, selection techniques, paragraph and character formatting, spell checking, and printing.

Starting Word

1.		On the PC, select Start, Programs, Microsoft Word from the Start list.  On the Mac, double-click on the Word application icon. This application is usually in a folder called Word.  In the Student Microcomputer Facility, an alias for Word appears on the desktop of the computers.
2.		Double-click on the icon of any Word document. Word documents can be anywhere. Word opens with the selected document already loaded.

Exploring Word's Interface

Components of the Word Window

Working with Text

Entering Text

To insert new text, just click the mouse at the point where you want the additional text and start typing. Existing text moves to accommodate your additions.

Moving the Insertion Point

Deleting Text

Selecting Text

Undoing Mistakes

Copying and Moving Text

Working with Word Documents

Opening and Closing Documents

For example, to open a file from a floppy disk, select Open... from the File menu. If the disk's name does not appear on the left side of the dialog box, click on the down arrow. Select its name in the box at the left or if it is not displayed, click the Up One Level button to see a different display of files and folders. When you locate the desired diskette or file, click Open. (Double-clicking on the name will also open it).
 

To close a document, click its close box in the upper right of the title bar (box with the large X on it) or select Close from the File menu. The keyboard shortcut is <Ctrl + W>.

Saving a Document

Formatting

Setting Margins

Formatting Characters, Words, Sentences

To format existing text, select the text and choose the formatting features from the Ribbon. For example, to create a heading that is Helvetica, bold, 18-point text, select the font and size from the pop-up menus on the Ribbon (see below). Then, click on the B button to turn on bold.

Formatting Paragraphs

You perform paragraph and page formatting using the Ruler and the Paragraph command from the Format menu. A picture of the Ruler appears below.

The Ruler has icons for paragraph alignment (left, centered, right, and justified). You can also control indents using the margin markers on the Ruler. The right triangle controls indention from the right margin and the left triangle controls indention from the left margin with the top marker controlling the first line only. Changes made on the Ruler affect only selected paragraphs. To change margins for the entire document, you should use the Page Setup command on the File menu.

The Ruler also contains icons for setting tabs. The table below describes the icons and how to use them.
 

Tab Markers	Setting, moving, and deleting tab stops using the Ruler.
Left aligned tab   Centered tab   Right aligned tab Decimal tab	Create an insertion point in the paragraph that you want to set tabs. Click on the desired tab setting and then the Ruler where you want to insert the tab.  To move a tab, drag the tab marker to a new location. To delete a tab, drag it off the Ruler.

Creating a First Line Indent

A first line indent is commonly used in text to offset the beginning of each new paragraph. To create a first line indent, drag the top triangle to the right. As you drag the top triangle, notice that the bottom triangle does not move.
Creating A Hanging Indent  Use a hanging indent to draw the reader’s eye to the beginning of the line. With a hanging indent, the first line aligns on the left margin and the rest of the indented paragraph "hangs" from the first line. Hold down the Shift key to move the left indent independently.

Numbering Pages with the Header and Footer

To create a header (or footer) in a document, select Header and Footer from the View menu. Type the header or footer text in the header or footer window (see below). The default text is left aligned with a centered tab set at 3 " and a right tab at 6. You can format Header and Footer text using the Ribbon and Ruler similar to a paragraph in your document. Click on the Header and Footer tool bar buttons to insert a page number, the current date, the time, and to switch between the Header and Footer template.

Checking the Spelling

Word has a built-in spelling checker. You can have Word check a selected portion of your document (one word, a paragraph, etc.) or the entire document. If you select text before starting the spelling checker, Word checks the selection, then asks whether it should stop or check the rest of the document. To check the entire document, move the insertion point to the top of the document by pressing (Ctrl + Home) before you select the spelling checker.

To start the spelling checker, select Spelling and Grammar from the Tools menu. Word will begin to check for misspellings. If Word finds a word that is not in its dictionaries, it pauses, displays the word, and if possible, suggests alternatives (see figure below).
 

You have several choices at this point described in the table below. If the word is spelled correctly, you can have Word ignore it or add it to a custom dictionary. If the word is incorrect, you can have Word replace it with one of its suggestions or with a spelling you supply in the Change To: box.

  

Previewing and Printing

Print Preview

The table below describes the options available in Print Preview.
 

	Click on this icon to display the print dialog box.
	This icon magnifies the page view. Click the magnifying glass cursor on the text for a closer look. It toggles between zooming in and out to the reduced size.
	This icon displays a one page view.
	Click on this icon to display multiple pages of a document.
	Zoom control button.
	Click on this icon to view the Ruler.
	This icon shrinks the page to fit in the window.
	This icon dsplays a page in full screen.
	Click on this icon to close the Print Preview screen
	Click on this icon to bring up Word help.

Printing