500 Tips
Word Processing
WordPerfect

Cut Down File Size

Because the Undo/Redo information is saved with the document, it can sometimes greatly increase file size, especially in cases where you delete, cut and paste large items (such as graphics or tables). To keep the file size down, either reduce the number of Undo/Redo items that WP remembers or turn off the feature that saves the Undo/Redo items with the document. To make changes, choose Edit/Undo/Redo History/Options. To change the number of items that WP remembers, type the desired number in the Number of Undo/Redo Items text box. If you don't want WP to save the information with the file, deselect the Save Undo/Redo Items With Document. After completion, WP still remembers the changes you make (up to the number of items that you set) until you save the document. Choose OK, and Close.

Format Shortcuts

For quick formatting shortcuts, try the HotSpots feature. As you move your mouse pointer in a document, a little button appears in the left margin of the paragraph closest to your pointer. Click this button and a dialog box appears, containing the most commonly used paragraph formatting features, such as justification, borders/fills and indent options. Similarly, if you move your pointer over a graphics box or table cell, a HotSpot appears in the upper corner. Click the HotSpot and a dialog box appears and allows you to quickly change formatting options.

Remove Unwanted Spellings

If you accidentally add a misspelled word to your supplementary dictionary during spell-check, remove it by editing the supplementary dictionary file. In a blank document screen, choose Tools/Spell Check/No. From the Customize pop-down button, choose User Word Lists. Your default word list, WT61US.UWL, should be selected. Pick the word you want to remove from the list at the bottom of the dialog box and choose Delete Entry. Repeat this to remove other unwanted words. When finished, choose Close twice.

Create a Calendar

Create an e 8.5 by 11 inch monthly calendar with the Calendar Expert. Choose File/New; from the dialog box under Select Template, double click on Calendar Expert. After a short processing time, you'll see the current month's calendar with a dialog box superimposed on it. If necessary, modify the starting month and determine how many months you want to create. Click Finished and your customized calendar is created and put into a document format ready to be edited as desired.

Outstanding Reveal Codes

You can change your Reveal Codes window to your favorite color scheme or simply have the codes stand out more from the background. Choose View/Reveal Codes to turn on Reveal Codes. Right-click in the Reveal Codes window and choose Preferences from the QuickMenu. Deselect Use System Colors. From the Text pop-up palette, select the color you want for normal text; from the Background pop-up palette, select the desired background. Choose OK to effect the changes.

Fast Closes

You can quickly close a file you don't want to save by adding the Close Without Saving feature to a Toolbar or the Power Bar. Right-click the Toolbar or Power Bar on which you want to add the button and choose Edit/Select /Close without Saving in the Features list box and choose Add Button. The new button is added to the end of the Toolbar or Power Bar. Choose OK. Now, whenever you have a document that you want to close and don't need to save, just click your Close Without Saving button.

Labels Galore

If you need to create a sheet of duplicate labels, such as return address labels, use the Merge feature. From a blank document window, choose Format/Labels. Highlight the type of label desired, such as Avery 5160, and choose Select. On the first label, type and format the information you want repeated on all the labels (including graphics, different fonts, borders, etc.). Choose Tools/Merge/Merge; next, select Options and in the text box type the number of labels on the page-in this example 30. Choose OK, Merge. WP creates a new document with a page full of identical labels.

Suppress that Header

Use the Delay Codes feature to allow a header or footer to appear only on the first page of a document. Place the insertion point at the top of the document and create your footer or header as usual. Choose Format/Page/Delay Codes. Leave the Number of Pages to Delay option set at 1 and choose OK. Choose Header/Footer from the Delay Codes Feature Bar, and select the footer or header you're using and choose Discontinue. Choose Close from the Feature Bar to return to your document.

Instant Labels

You can instantly create labels from selected addresses in your Address Book. From a blank document window, choose Format/Labels. Select the label style, such as Avery 5160, and click Select. Click the Address Book button on the Toolbar. When the Address Book dialog box appears, select the addresses needed to create labels for. To select multiple addresses, hold down the Control key as you select each address. Once the addresses are selected, choose Insert. Now, you're ready to print.

Find Your Place

Use QuickMark to label a spot in your document so you can return to it quickly. Place the cursor at the desired location and press Crtl+Shift+Q to insert a QuickMark. When you want to return to this spot, press Crtl+Q. If you want the mark to remain in the document, place the cursor at the desired location and press Insert/Bookmark/Create. To find a bookmark, click Insert/Bookmark, select the name of the bookmark, and click Go To.

Skip Spell-Check

You don't need to waste time spell-checking portions of your document that contain proper nouns, scientific words or foreign words that won't be recognized by the Speller. To have the Speller ignore sections you don't want spell-checked, select the text and choose Tools/Language and select Disable Writing Tools. Click OK. When you perform a spell-check, that part of the document is automatically skipped over.

Format on the Fly

Use drag-and-drop to copy formatting from one section of a table to another. Format the first cell with the shading and other formatting details you want, such as bold or center justification. Select the cell, then click the cell again with the mouse and drag the pointer to where you want to copy the formatting. With the insertion point in the new cell, release the mouse button and the formatting is copied.

Colorful Highlights

It's easy to highlight text in the color of your choice. Select the text you want to highlight and choose Tools/Highlight/Highlight On, or click the Highlight button on the default toolbar. To change the highlight color, choose Tools/Highlight/Change Color. Select the new color from the Color pop-down palette and choose OK. The new color is used for any text that you highlight from this point on. The highlighting will print in various shades, depending on the color and printer.

Fade to Black

Creating white text on a black background is a snap with the help of a macro included with WP. First, select the text in your document that you want to format. You can either right-click the Toolbar and select Design Tools, and click the reverse text (white-on-black) button. Or, you can choose Tools/Macro/Play, type reverse and choose Play. When the Reverse Text Options dialog box appears, select the settings you want, such as text and background color. Choose OK and your text is automatically formatted.

Get Expert Help

When you need help solving a problem, click the Ask the PerfectExpert button on the Toolbar or choose Help, Ask the PerfectExpert. In the text box, type the question you want answered, (such as "How do I delete a button from the toolbar?") then choose Search. The PerfectExpert displays a list of help topics that will best answer your question.

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