Microsoft Word For Windows The Word Window The Microsoft Word for Windows screen consists of two main parts, the text area and the elements surrounding the text area. The diagram below shows a typical Word screen. Cursor Title Bar Ruler Menu Bar Button Bar Ribbon Scroll Box Scroll Bar Status Bar When working in the Word screen you use the text are to enter text and graphics and you use the other elements for editing, formatting and maneuvering within the Word document. There are two important marks in any Word screen -- the insertion point and the end mark (not pictured above). The insertion point indicates where text will be entered once you start typing. The end mark indicates the end of the document. The text area also contains an unmarked section (located on the far left of the Word screen) called the selection area or selection bar. This area is used to quickly select text. When you position the mouse in this are it will change your mouse pointer to a large rightward pointing arrow.
You will also notice that the mouse, when it is positioned in the text area of the Word screen, presents you with an I type pointer. This mouse pointer is used to allow you to position the cursor anywhere within the document. Otherwise, the mouse pointer will be in the shape of a rightward pointing arrow which can be used to select menu commands or screen elements. The Word screen also contains several other key elements that are listed below. Button Bar Title Bar - The title bar shows the application and document name. Menu Bar - The menu bar contains all of the commands that can be performed in the Microsoft Word application. Button Bar - The button bar contains icons that represent certain menu commands to provide quick and easy ways to perform typical commands. A picture of the button bar is shown below. (See picture below). Ribbon - The ribbon contains drop down boxes and icons that allow for quick and easy ways to format text. (See picture below) Ruler - The ruler allows for a quick and easy way to set tabs and margins. Scroll Bars and Scroll Boxes - The scroll bars and boxes allow for quick ways to move throughout a Word document. Status Bar - The status bar provides certain information about a document such as page number, location on the page and section number. New Open Save Print Preview Spell Cut Copy Paste Format Undo Redo AutoFormat AutoText Table Excel Column Draw Chart Symbols View Size Help Ribbon Style Font Font Size Bold Italic Underline Left Center Right Justify Bullet Bullet Indent Indent Borders Working with Menus Working with menus in Word is the same as working with menus in any Windows based application. To select any menu, simply position the mouse pointer over the desired menu selection and click once with the left mouse button. A drop down menu will be presented across the screen, similar to the one shown on the following page.
Drop-down menu Once a drop-down menu is shown on a screen you have two choices, cancel the menu selection or select a command. To cancel the menu selection, click once anywhere in the text area of the screen or press the <ESC> key. Working with Dialog Boxes Working with dialog boxes is the same in Word as it is in any Windows application. Word takes advantage of the full-range of communication avenues that the user can provide through a dialog box. These options include: option and radio buttons, text boxes, list boxes, check boxes, and drop down boxes. To get more information on dialog boxes consult a Microsoft Windows Reference Manual. Scrolling within a Document Located on the bottom and on the right-hand side of the Word screen are scroll bars. The scroll bars are used to quickly maneuver in a document either horizontally or vertically. To move slowly in either direction, simply click on the arrow of the direction in which you wish to scroll. If you would like to move through the document a screen at a time click once in the gray area of the scroll bar. To move more than one screen at a time click on the scroll box and drag the box in the direction in which you wish to move. Release the mouse button when you get to the desired point in the document.
Working with Document Text Typing in a Document When you first enter Word you can immeadiately start typing. As you type, text will appear to the left of the insertion point cursor. When text gets to the end of a line on the screen Word will automatically wrap text to the next line. Adding or Deleting Text in a Document When you add or delete text Word will automatically adjust the text for you. To delete text, place your cursor at the end of the text you wish to delete and press your <Backspace> key for every character you wish to delete (See Basic Editing to get more information on selecting blocks of text for editing, formatting or deleting). To add text, place your insertion cursor at the desired location and type. Word by default is in insert mode.. Paragraphs Paragraphs are a group of sentences that are related in terms of the topic discussed. A paragraph in Word is distinguished by text that is ended by a Hard Return. A hard return is designated by pressing the <ENTER> key at the end of the text. If you would like Word to show all the Paragraph marks, spaces, etc. to help you better distinguish paragraphs, simply click on the Show/Hide Paragraph button on the Button Bar. The button is designated by the universal standard symbol for a paragraph as shown below. Show/Hide Paragraph Marks Saving a Document When working with a document you should save it frequently. The first time you save a document you are required to give it a unique name. To save a document select, File from the menu bar and the Save. You will be presented with the following dialog box.
In the file name box you can type in a file name. You can have filenames up to eight characters in length. Word also allows you to add summary information to be attached to the file name. After typing in the file name and then clicking on the OK button you will be presented another dialog box (only during the first time you save the document). You will be prompted (optional) to enter a descriptive title, a descriptive subject for grouping the file with other files, the author s name, keywords that can be used in file searches and extended comments. When you are finished entering the summary information click on OK. Closing a Document When you are finished with a document and you want to continue in Word, you can close the document, if you desire. To close a document, select File and then Close from the menu bar. Your document will be closed unless you have made changes to yoir document since the last time you saved.