Do the splits!

Sometimes it is convenient to be able to view the beginning of a document as well as the middle or end so that you can compare the content, formatting, etc. The easy way to do this is by splitting the Window.

1. From the View tab, in the Window group, choose Split. 

 

2. Your mouse pointer will now have the split (which appears as gray bar with a double arrow), attached to it. Simply click where you want to split the Window into two, generally somewhere near the middle. You can move the split later if you wish!

3. The Window will now be divided into two separate panes, each having individual scroll bars and zoom settings!

You can move the split by clicking and dragging it with your mouse, or double click the split to remove it.

OK - Now that you are convinced this is a useful view, here is the shortcut!

The easiest way to align text using tabs in Word

This is an example of a right tab with a dot leader set at the 3” mark.

1.      If necessary, show the ruler below by clicking the check box on the View tab of the ribbon in the Show/Hide group. Verify that your document is in Print Layout view.

 

2.       It is also helpful to turn on the Show/Hide button in the Paragraph group on the ribbon. This will allow you to see the non-printing arrows that will appear when you touch the tab key on your keyboard.

 

3.       Use the button on the left end of the ruler below the ribbon to select the basic tab type (left, center, right, decimal, etc.).  Click the button several times to cycle through the different tab types. This shows a right tab type selected.

 4. Use your mouse to left click on the ruler where you want the tab to be. This shows a right tab set on the ruler at the 6” mark.

5.      To see all tab options (position,  type, dot leaders, etc.) you must open the Tab options dialog box. The easiest way to do this is to point your mouse at the tab you have set on the ruler. When the tool tip appears, double click the selected tab.

The Tabs dialog box will appear displaying all tab options.

This shows a tab set at the ½” mark and at the 6” mark.

The 6” tab is selected and is a right tab with a stye 2 dot Leader.

You can make changes to tabs you have already set, set additional tabs, or clear extra tabs here.  Select the tab from the list and change the Alignment, set the Leader, change the position, or clear the tab.

Click the OK button when you are done.

Alternate instructions: The tabs dialog box can also be accessed by clicking the dialog box launcher at the bottom right corner of the Paragraph group on the ribbon. When the Paragraph  dialog box appears, click the Tabs button on the bottom left corner.

Synonyms make quick definitions in Word

Need to know whether it should be "weather" or "whether"? "Effect" or "affect"? Right click on a word and point your mouse at Synonyms from the menu that appears. You will see a list of words that should give you a good idea of the definition without having to use the Research pane.

Neat!

Word: Get rid of the extra space!

Want to get rid of that pesky extra space once and for all that is included with "normal" text in a Word 2007 or 2010 document?

1. Click the dialog box launcher in the Paragraph group (that is the little arrow in the bottom right corner of the group on the ribbon) on the Home tab of Word. This will open the dialog box with all your paragraph options. If necessary, choose the tab at the top of the dialog box for Indents and Spacing.
   
2. Set the Spacing settings to 0 pt Before and After, and the Line spacing to Single.
3. Now click the Set As Default button along the bottom of the dialog box. A confirmation dialog box will appear asking if you want to set the default; be sure to choose the option for "all documents based on the Normal template."
4. Click OK, then close the Paragraph dialog box.
   

From now on, when you open a new blank document, the Normal style will have no extra spacing!