Blonde Tutorials
 
Introduction to MS Word

Microsoft Word 2003 is the word processing part of Office 2003. Generally you would use Word to write letters and reports, but it can do much more (even web pages).
If you've used other versions of Word, you'll notice that 2003 has a slightly different look but is still very user-friendly.

The Getting Started pane at the right of the screen will give you some options. This is also where panes for help and clip art will open.
Everything you need to create a great document is on the Toolbars. In this image, the Menu, the Standard Toolbar, the Formatting Toolbar are at the top and the Drawing Toolbar is at the bottom. (Use the "4 dots" on the left of the bar to drag & drop toolbars to move them).
**All of these toolbars and more can be found by going to "View" >> "Toolbars" on the Menu.**
Read on to find out more about the Toolbars.

The Standard Toolbar -- Place your curser over any toolbar icon to find out what it does. (you can also click to go to the description)
3. Save: Clicking on the Save icon saves the publication you are currently working on. If you are saving a publication for the first time, you can click on this button. However, if you want to save a new file, then you must go to the menu bar and select “File” >> “Save As” and give the file a new name. When working on any document, you should be sure to save frequently so that you don't lose any work. 2. Open: Clicking on this icon opens up a previously saved document on your computer. 1. New Blank Document: Use this to create a brand new document. 4. Permission: Microsoft has enabled Information Rights Management (IRM) within the new version of Word, which can help protect sensitive documents from being copied or forwarded. Click this for more information and options. 5. E-mail: This will allow you to E-mail the document directly from Word. 6. Print: Clicking on the Print icon automatically prints the document currently active in Word. This will print directly to the default printer. If you wish to explore more print options, then go to the menu bar and select “File” >> “Print.” 7. Print Preview: To get an idea of the appearance of your document in print before you actually print it out, you can click on this icon to view your document from a zoom-out distance. 8. Spelling and Grammar: Clicking begins a review of your document in search of spelling and grammatical errors that may need to be corrected. 9. Research: This will let you look up items in dictionaries and encyclopedias. 10. Cut: Cuts out the current selection and adds it to the clipboard, which can then be pasted elsewhere in the document, or into a completely separate program/document -- COOL! Quick Trick: Use Ctrl+X as a keyboard shortcut to Cut. 11. Copy: Copy the current selection to the clipboard, which can then be pasted elsewhere in the document, or into a completely separate program/document. Quick Trick: Use Ctrl+C as a keyboard shortcut to Copy. 12. Paste: Clicking on the Paste button inserts the text that has been most recently added to the Clipboard (the text would have been added there by Cutting or Copying). With Paste, you can either insert the copied text into a document or replace selected text. Quick Trick: Use Ctrl+V as a keyboard shortcut to Paste. 13. Format Painter: Allows you to "paint" the formatting (color, font, etc.) of a selected section to other sections. 14. Undo Typing: The Undo Typing button goes back and removes the last addition or change made to your document. 15. Redo Typing: This will redo anything that has been undone. 16. Insert Hyperlink: Using the Insert Hyperlink button, you can turn selected text into hyperlinks. When the icon is clicked, a window will appear that will allow you to insert the URL (web address) of the web page you want to link to. Once the link is inserted, the link in your Word document can be clicked and the web page will open up in a web browser. 17. Tables and Borders: This will open a window that will let you draw and format tables, borders and columns. 18. Insert Table: When this icon is clicked, a small window will appear in the form of a grid of squares. Use this window as a guide to indicate how many rows and columns you would like your table to contain. 19. Insert Excel Worksheet: Works similarly to the Insert Table icon, but it actually inserts an Excel worksheet where you can perform calculations. 20. Columns: Lets you choose to put your text into columns. 21. Drawing: Opens the Drawing Toolbar at the bottom of the page. 22. Document Map: This opens a separate pane that displays a list of headings in the document. Use the Document Map to quickly navigate through the document and keep track of your location in it. 23. Show/Hide: Clicking this will show or hide "invisible" characters like Tab and Enter. 24. Zoom: Zoom in or out on your document. 25. Help: Become close friends with this icon. It will bring up the Assistance pane that can answer almost any question about Microsoft Word.

1. New Blank Document: Use this to create a brand new document.
Return to Standard Toolbar
2. Open: Clicking on this icon opens up a previously saved document on your computer.
Return to Standard Toolbar
3. Save: Clicking on the Save icon saves the document you are currently working on. If you are saving a document for the first time, you can click on this button. However, if you want to save a new file, then you must go to the menu bar and select “File” >> “Save As” and give the file a new name. When working on any document, you should be sure to save frequently so that you don't lose any work.
Return to Standard Toolbar
4. Permission: Microsoft has enabled Information Rights Management (IRM) within the new version of Word, which can help protect sensitive documents from being copied or forwarded. Click this for more information and options.
Return to Standard Toolbar
5. E-mail: This will allow you to E-mail the document directly from Word.
Return to Standard Toolbar
6. Print: Clicking on the Print icon automatically prints the document currently active in Word. This will print directly to the default printer. If you wish to explore more print options, then go to the menu bar and select “File” >> “Print.”
Return to Standard Toolbar
7. Print Preview: To get an idea of the appearance of your document in print before you actually print it out, you can click on this icon to view your document from a zoom-out distance.
Return to Standard Toolbar
8. Spelling and Grammar: Clicking begins a review of your document in search of spelling and grammatical errors that may need to be corrected.
Return to Standard Toolbar
9. Research: This will let you look up items in dictionaries and encyclopedias.
Return to Standard Toolbar
10. Cut: Cuts out the current selection and adds it to the clipboard, which can then be pasted elsewhere in the document, or into a completely separate program/document -- COOL! Quick Trick: Use Ctrl+X as a keyboard shortcut to Cut.
Return to Standard Toolbar
11. Copy: Copy the current selection to the clipboard, which can then be pasted elsewhere in the document, or into a completely separate program/document. Quick Trick: Use Ctrl+C as a keyboard shortcut to Copy.
Return to Standard Toolbar
12. Paste: Clicking on the Paste button inserts the text that has been most recently added to the Clipboard (the text would have been added there by Cutting or Copying). With Paste, you can either insert the copied text into a document or replace selected text. Quick Trick: Use Ctrl+V as a keyboard shortcut to Paste.
Return to Standard Toolbar
13. Format Painter: Allows you to "paint" the formatting (color, font, etc.) of a selected section to other sections.
Return to Standard Toolbar
14. Undo Typing: The Undo Typing button goes back and removes the last addition or change made to your document.
15. Redo Typing: This will redo anything that has been undone.
Return to Standard Toolbar
16. Insert Hyperlink: Using the Insert Hyperlink button, you can turn selected text into hyperlinks. When the icon is clicked, a window will appear that will allow you to insert the URL (web address) of the web page you want to link to. Once the link is inserted, the link in your Word document can be clicked and the web page will open up in a web browser.
Return to Standard Toolbar
17. Tables and Borders: This will open a window that will let you draw and format tables, borders and columns.
Return to Standard Toolbar
18. Insert Table: When this icon is clicked, a small window will appear in the form of a grid of squares. Use this window as a guide to indicate how many rows and columns you would like your table to contain.
Return to Standard Toolbar
19. Insert Excel Worksheet: Works similarly to the Insert Table icon, but it actually inserts an Excel worksheet where you can perform calculations.
Return to Standard Toolbar
20. Columns: Lets you choose to put your text into columns.
Return to Standard Toolbar
21. Drawing: Opens the Drawing Toolbar at the bottom of the page.
Return to Standard Toolbar
22. Document Map: This opens a separate pane that displays a list of headings in the document. Use the Document Map to quickly navigate through the document and keep track of your location in it.
Return to Standard Toolbar
23. Show/Hide: Clicking this will show or hide "invisible" characters like Tab and Enter.
Return to Standard Toolbar
24. Zoom: Zoom in or out on your document.
Return to Standard Toolbar
25. Help: Become close friends with this icon. It will bring up the Assistance pane that can answer almost any question about Microsoft Word.
Return to Standard Toolbar

The Formatting Toolbar -- Place your curser over any toolbar icon to find out what it does. (you can also click to go to the description)
 1. Style: Styles in Word are used to quickly format portions of text. For example, you could use the " Normal" or "Default Paragraph Font" for the body text in a document. There are also three preset styles made for headings. 2. Font: Font is a simple but important factor in Word documents. The choice of font (the style of the text itself) can influence the way others view documents, either on the screen or in print. For example, Arial font looks better on screen, while Times New Roman is clearer in print. Click the little arrow to see a list of available fonts. 3. Font Size: You may encounter times in which you need to display some text larger or smaller than other text. Choose a font size from the drop down menu (little arrow). 4. Bold: Places the text in bold. 5. Italic: Places the text in italics. 6. Underline: Underlines the text. 7.Align Left: Aligns the selection to the left of the screen/paper. 8. Center: Aligns the selection to the center of the screen/paper. 9. Align Right: Aligns the selection to the right of the screen/paper. 10. Justify: Aligns the selection to both the left and right of the screen/paper. 11. Line Spacing: Adjust the line spacing (single-spaced, double-spaced, etc.) 12. Numbering: Create a numbered list. 13. Bullets: Create an unordered, bulleted list. 14. Decrease Indent: Decreases the indentation of the current selection (to the left). 15. Increase Indent: Increases the indentation of the current selection (to the right). 16. Outside Border: Places a border around the current selection; click the drop-down for a wide selection of bordering options. 17. Highlight: Highlight the current selection (the default color is yellow). 18. Font Color: Changes the font color (the default color is black).
1. Style: Styles in Word are used to quickly format portions of text. For example, you could use the " Normal" or "Default Paragraph Font" for the body text in a document. There are also three preset styles made for headings.
Return to Formatting Toolbar
2. Font: Font is a simple but important factor in Word documents. The choice of font (the style of the text itself) can influence the way others view documents, either on the screen or in print. For example, Arial font looks better on screen, while Times New Roman is clearer in print. Click the little arrow to see a list of available fonts.
Return to Formatting Toolbar
3. Font Size: You may encounter times in which you need to display some text larger or smaller than other text. Choose a font size from the drop down menu (little arrow).
Return to Formatting Toolbar
4. Bold: Places the text in bold.
Return to Formatting Toolbar
5. Italic: Places the text in italics.
Return to Formatting Toolbar
6. Underline: Underlines the text.
Return to Formatting Toolbar
7.Align Left: Aligns the selection to the left of the screen/paper.
Return to Formatting Toolbar
8. Center: Aligns the selection to the center of the screen/paper.
Return to Formatting Toolbar
9. Align Right: Aligns the selection to the right of the screen/paper.
Return to Formatting Toolbar
10. Justify: Aligns the selection to both the left and right of the screen/paper.
Return to Formatting Toolbar
11. Line Spacing: Adjust the line spacing (single-spaced, double-spaced, etc.)
Return to Formatting Toolbar
12. Numbering: Create a numbered list.
Return to Formatting Toolbar
13. Bullets: Create an unordered, bulleted list.
Return to Formatting Toolbar
14. Decrease Indent: Decreases the indentation of the current selection (to the left).
Return to Formatting Toolbar
15. Increase Indent: Increases the indentation of the current selection (to the right).
Return to Formatting Toolbar
16. Outside Border: Places a border around the current selection; click the drop-down for a wide selection of bordering options.
Return to Formatting Toolbar
17. Highlight: Highlight the current selection (the default color is yellow).
Return to Formatting Toolbar
18. Font Color: Changes the font color (the default color is black).
Return to Formatting Toolbar

The Drawing Toolbar -- Place your curser over any toolbar icon to find out what it does. (you can also click to go to the description)

1. Draw Menu: Clicking this will bring up a menu of many options for pictures and objects.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
2. Selection Arrow: Click and drag to select one or several objects.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
3. Autoshapes: Click to bring up a choice of many shapes that you can "draw" on your document.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
4. Line: Allows you to draw a straight line anywhere on the page. Hint: To draw a perfectly horizontal or vertical line, hold down the Shift key while drawing.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
5. Arrow: Allows you to draw an arrow anywhere on the page. Hint: To draw a perfectly horizontal or vertical arrow, hold down the Shift key while drawing.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
6. Rectangle: Allows you to draw a rectangle. Hint: To draw a perfect square, hold down the Shift key while drawing.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
7. Oval: Allows you to draw an oval. Hint: To draw a perfect circle, hold down the Shift key while drawing.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
8. Text Box: This lets you draw a box to type in. It works well when you want to type on top of another object. A fun aspect of the text box is that you can make the text direction vertical.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
9. Insert WordArt: This is fun, preformatted text.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
10. Insert Diagram or Organization Chart: Clicking here will open a window where you can choose from several designs of charts that you can fill in with your own information.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
11. Insert Clip Art: This opens the Clip Art pane at the right of the page. You can enter a search term and Word will search local files and online. You can also choose your media file type (clip art, photos, movies, or sound).
Return to Drawing Toolbar
12. Insert Picture: This is what you use if you have a picture saved that you want to add to your document. It will bring up a window so that you can browse to where you have the pic saved.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
13. Fill Color: This lets you change the fill the color of the selected object (click the little down arrow for more color choices).
Return to Drawing Toolbar
14. Line Color: This lets you change the line color of the selected object (click the little down arrow for more color choices).
Return to Drawing Toolbar
15. Font Color: This lets you change the font color of the selected text (click the little down arrow for more color choices).
Return to Drawing Toolbar
16. Line Style: Click to get a menu of different line styles for the selected object.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
17. Dash Style: Click to get a menu of different dashed line styles for the selected object.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
18. Arrow Style: Click to get a menu of different arrow styles for the selected line.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
19. Shadow Style: Add different shadow effects to the selected object.
Return to Drawing Toolbar
20. 3-D Style: Add different 3-D effects to the selected object.
Return to Drawing Toolbar


• Blonde Tutorials Home • MS Word Intro • Creating & Saving • Text • Margins & Spacing • Bullets & Numbering • Clip Art & Drawing • Tables • Mail Merge & Worksheets • Web Pages •

All tutorials may be reproduced only in their original form with appropriate credit given to the owner/author.
Microsoft, Windows, Office 2003, Outlook Express, Outlook, Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint and the respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft.
All other original images and tutorials in this site are property of Early ISD, Copyright © 2005.
Please e-mail questions and comments to Ren Yantis, resident blonde.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Draw Menu: Clicking this will bring up a menu of many options for pictures and objects. 2. Selection Arrow: Click and drag to select one or several objects. 4. Line: Allows you to draw a straight line anywhere on the page. Hint: To draw a perfectly horizontal or vertical line, hold down the Shift key while drawing. 5. Arrow: Allows you to draw an arrow anywhere on the page. Hint: To draw a perfectly horizontal or vertical arrow, hold down the Shift key while drawing. 6. Rectangle: Allows you to draw a rectangle. Hint: To draw a perfect square, hold down the Shift key while drawing. 7. Oval: Allows you to draw an oval. Hint: To draw a perfect circle, hold down the Shift key while drawing. 8. Text Box: This lets you draw a box to type in. It works well when you want to type on top of another object. A fun aspect of the text box is that you can make the text direction vertical. 9. Insert WordArt: This is fun, preformatted text. 10. Insert Diagram or Organization Chart: Clicking here will open a window where you can choose from several designs of charts that you can fill in with your own information. 11. Insert Clip Art: This opens the Clip Art pane at the right of the page. You can enter a search term and Word will search local files and online. You can also choose your media file type (clip art, photos, movies, or sound). 12. Insert Picture: This is what you use if you have a picture saved that you want to add to your document. It will bring up a window so that you can browse to where you have the pic saved. 13. Fill Color: This lets you change the fill the color of the selected object (click the little down arrow for more color choices). 14. Line Color: This lets you change the line color of the selected object (click the little down arrow for more color choices). 15. Font Color: This lets you change the font color of the selected text (click the little down arrow for more color choices). 16. Line Style: Click to get a menu of different line styles for the selected object. 17. Dash Style: Click to get a menu of different dashed line styles for the selected object. 18. Arrow Style: Click to get a menu of different arrow styles for the selected line. 3. Autoshapes: Click to bring up a choice of many shapes that you can "draw" on your document. 19. Shadow Style: Add different shadow effects to the selected object. 20. 3-D Style: Add different 3-D effects to the selected object.