500 Tips
Word Processing
Microsoft Word 7.0

In Your Own Words

Custom dictionaries are ASCII files that can be created with Word. To make your own dictionary, type the words you want to include--one per line--then use Save As and select Text with Line Breaks. Before saving, change the file extension from TXT to DIC. (Be sure to put your file name within quotation marks so Word doesn't automatically add the TXT extension.) You can then use the Custom Dictionaries button under Tools/Options/Spelling to add your list to the dictionary.

The Wizard of Odds

To begin a document section on an odd-numbered page (so it always appears on the right when you print on both sides of a page), select Insert/Break, and then choose Odd Page. To remove a section break, click on the break line and press the Delete key.

Precise Page Numbers

To insert page numbers at the outside margin, select Insert/Page Numbers and choose Outside in the Alignment box. To start page numbering with a specific number, select Insert/Page Numbers, click on Format, then type a number in the Start At box.

Deviated Dictionary

If you've inadvertently added a misspelled word to the custom dictionary, open the CUSTOM.DIC file, remove the word (and the entire line)and save the file.

Symbolic Signs

AutoFormat and AutoCorrect will automatically format and insert symbols and ordinals. For example, type 1st and Word converts it to 1st and 1/2 becomes ½. Word does the same for special symbols: (c) becomes © and (TM) becomes ™.

Speed's the Word

Here are two easy ways to speed up Word's performance: Select Tools/Options, and on the View tab check the Picture Placeholders option so pictures display as empty rectangles. On the General tab turn off the Background Repagination option.

Find That Folder

Word looks for documents in the My Documents folder, but if you keep your work somewhere else, it can be directed to look in another folder. Select Tools/Options, click on the File Locations tab and from the File Types list highlight Documents. Click on Modify and select the directory/folder where your files are located.

My Back Pages

To print pages in reverse order, select Tools/Options, click on the Print tab and check the Reverse Print Order. To print a range of pages, select File/Print and in the Pages text box, type the page numbers you want to print (e.g., 4, 7, 8-10). Double-click the printer icon in the status bar to cancel a background print job.

Quick Fix

You can fix errors even if you're viewing a document in Print Preview mode. Click on the magnifying glass button, zoom in on the error and edit the text.

Side By Side

To arrange text and graphics side-by-side--for a catalog, for example--use a table.

Daintier Documents

If you keep Fast Save turned on while working on documents over 100KB, your files will get very large, especially if repeatedly revised. To keep files at their slimmest, turn off Fast Save by selecting Tools/Options and clicking on the Save tab. Uncheck the Allow Fast Saves checkbox.

Take a Short Scroll

If you get lost as you scroll through a document, use ScrollTips to see what page you're on. When you move the scroll bar slide, the page number will be displayed.

Keep Up To Date

Set headers or footers to include the current date and/or system time. Select View/Header and Footer, then click in the header (or footer) area and select Insert/Date and Time. Pick a format, and check the Update Automatically (Insert as Field) checkbox. When you open the document, Word updates the header or footer with the current date and time.

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