Word: Customizing

Updated 2010.09.03

Objectives

• Learn how to change the values of some common features in Word

Customizing Word

To get this result…	Solution
To show keyboard shortcuts for ribbon buttons.	Click on the Office Button: Then click on Word Options. Click on Advanced. Then turn on the Show shortcut keys in Screentips check box.
Shorten the auto-backup time so you don't lose work when Word dies in the middle of a job	Click on the Office Button: Then click on Word Options. Click on Save. Then change the Save AutoRecover information every to 1 minute instead of the default value of 10. Make sure the check box is checked.
To avoid typing the same things over and over	Create your own shorthand. Click on Then click on Word Options. Click on Proofing. Click on AutoCorrect Options. Enter the shorthand in the Replace field and the expanded text in the With field. Click on Add to add your new shorthand to Word’s list. Click on OK when done.
To change formats when cutting and pasting	Usually when you paste text into a document, you want it to be the same as the surrounding text, not the same as the text where it came from. Click on the Office Button: Then click on Word Options. Click on Advanced. Then:
To avoid using the same menu/toolbar commands over and over	Create a macro. From the “View” tab, choose “Macros” | "Record new macro". Carry out the command, and then click on the "Stop Recording" button on the macro toolbar.
To find recently-used files quickly	Click on the Office Button: Then click on Word Options. Click on Advanced. Set the number of recent documents to be displayed to a high number.
To find any file quickly	Don't mess with the Windows XP search program (Windows Vista and Windows 7 are another story, however – they have a fast file search utility built-in). Instead, download either Google Desktop Search or Yahoo Desktop Search. These programs will give you instantaneous results.
To open a file created at work when you take it home (if you're using an older version of Word at home)	To save a file in a different format once: Click on the Office Button: Then click on Save As… and choose Word 97-2003 Document (or another option if you need yet an older format). To save a file in a different format always: Click on the Office Button: Then click on Word Options. Click on Save. Select the desired format for your document from the drop-down list. Word will save your documents in this format until you either (1) change it, or (2) override it (see “Once” above).
To reduce the time spent formatting a large document	Use Styles. From the Home tab, in the Styles group, click on a style: