Getting Familiar with Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is a word processing software package. You can use it to type letters, reports, and other documents. This lesson introduces you to the Word window. You use the Word window to interact with Microsoft Word.


This tutorial teaches Microsoft Word basics. Although knowledge of how to navigate in a Windows environment is helpful, this tutorial was created for the computer novice. To begin, open Microsoft Word. Your screen will look like the one shown here.

Click the X in the upper right corner of the New Document pane to close the New Document pane. Your screen will then look like the one shown here.

The Title Bar

This lesson will familiarize you with the Microsoft Word screen. We will start with the Title bar, which is located at the very top of the screen. On the Title bar, Microsoft Word displays the name of the document on which you are currently working. At the top of your screen, you should see "Microsoft Word - Document1" or a similar name.

The Menu Bar

The Menu bar is generally found directly below the Title bar. The Menu bar displays the menu. The Menu bar begins with the word File and continues with Edit, View, Insert, Format, Tools, Table, Window, and Help. You use the menus to give instructions to the software. Point with your mouse to a menu option and click the left mouse button to open a drop-down menu. You can now use the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard to move left and right across the Menu bar options. You can use the up and down arrow keys to move up and down the drop-down menu.

The most frequently used menu options appear on the menu list. A chevron appears at the bottom of the list. Click the chevron to display additional menu options.

To select an option, click the option or use the arrow keys to move to the option on the drop-down menu and press Enter. An ellipse or a right arrow after a menu item signifies additional options; if you select that menu item, a dialog box appears. Items in gray are not available.
You can customize your screen so that all of the menu options display when you click a menu item. This tutorial assumes that your menu is set to display all menu options. To customize your menu to display all of the menu options:

1. Click Tools on the Menu bar.
2. Click Customize on the drop down menu. The Customize dialog box opens.
3. Click the Options tab.
4. Click in the check box to select Always Show Full Menus.

5. Click Close.

Exercise 1

Do the following exercise. It demonstrates using the Microsoft Word menu.

1. Click File on the Menu bar.
2. Press the right arrow key until Help is highlighted.
3. Press the left arrow key until Format is highlighted.
4. Press the down arrow key until Styles and Formatting are highlighted.
5. Press the up arrow key until Paragraph is highlighted.
6. Press Enter to select the Paragraph menu option.
7. Click Cancel to close the dialog box.

Toolbars

The Standard Toolbar

The Formatting Toolbar

Toolbars provide shortcuts to menu commands. Toolbars are generally located just below the Menu bar. Before proceeding with this lesson, make sure the toolbars you will use -- Standard and Formatting -- are available. Follow these steps:

1. Click View on the Menu bar.
2. Highlight Toolbars.
3. Standard and Formatting should have check marks next to them. If both Standard and Formatting have heck marks next to them, press Esc three times to close the menu.
4. If they do not both have check marks, click Customize.
5. Click the Toolbars tab.
6. Point to the box next to the unchecked option and click the left mouse button to make a check mark appear.
   Note: You turn the check mark on and off by clicking the left mouse button.
7. Click Close to close the dialog box.

The Ruler

The ruler is generally found below the main toolbars. The ruler is used to change the format of your document quickly. To display the ruler:

1. Click View on the Menu bar.
2. The option Ruler should have a check mark next to it. If it has a check mark next to it, press Esc to close the menu. If it does not have a check mark next to it, continue to the next step.
3. Click Ruler. The ruler now appears below the toolbars.

Document View

In Word, you can display your document in one of five views: Normal, Web Layout, Print Layout, Reading Layout, or Online Layout.

Normal View

Normal view is the most often used and shows formatting such as line spacing, font, point size, and italics. Word displays multiple-column text in one continuous column.

Web Layout

Web layout view enables you to view your document as it would appear in a browser such as Internet Explorer.

Print Layout

The Print Layout view shows the document as it will look when it is printed.

Reading Layout

Reading Layout view formats your screen to make reading your document more comfortable.

Outline view

Outline view displays the document in outline form. Headings can be displayed without the text. If you move a heading, the accompanying text moves with it.

Word 2002 In Word 2002, you can display your document in one of four views: Normal, Outline, Page Layout, or Online Layout. Normal view Normal view is the most often used and shows formatting such as line spacing, font, point size, and italics. Word displays multiple-column text in one continuous column. Outline view Outline view displays the document in outline form. Headings can be displayed without the text. If you move a heading, the accompanying text moves with it. Print Layout view The Print Layout view shows the document as it will look when it is printed. Online Layout view The Online Layout view optimizes the document for online viewing (viewing the document in a browser such as Internet Explorer).

Before moving ahead, check to make sure you are in Normal view:

1. Click View on the Menu bar.
2. The icon next to Normal should have a box around it. If the icon next to normal has a box around it, press Esc to close the menu. If the icon next to Normal does not have a box around it, continue on to the next step.
3. Click Normal. You are now in Normal view.

Text Area

Just below the ruler is a large area called the "text area." You type your document in the text area. The blinking vertical line in the upper left corner of the text area is the cursor. It marks the insertion point. As you type, your work shows at the cursor location. The horizontal line next to the cursor marks the end of the document.

Exiting Word

You have completed Lesson One. Typically, you would save your work before exiting. This lesson does not require you to enter any text, so you might have nothing to save. To exit Word:

1. Click File.
2. Click Exit, which can be found at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
3. If you have entered text, you will be prompted: "Do you want to save changes to Document1?" To save your changes, click Yes. Otherwise, click No.
4. Specify the correct folder in the Save In box.
5. Name your file by typing lesson1.doc in the File Name field.
6. Click Save.