Mac Word Questions

[Ron]

Greetings! I've just switched from Dell to a MacBook Pro with Mac Word. I'm an accomplished MS Word user and have had trouble finding some of the commands and functions I enjoyed using in MS Word. Here's a list. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

-Instantly opening a new file on the desktop or in a folder without having to go to the menu, select a location for the file, etc. (In MS Word this is done through right-click in the location.)

-Repeat last command or commands. (MS Word: F4)

-Move cursor to previous location or to beginning or end of document. (MS Word: F5, C-Home, C-End)

-In Print Layout view, collapsing the space between pages to just a line. (MS Word: Double-click the space)

-In my setup, 12 pt type in Mac Word is quite small. Is there an easy way to set the default so 12 point is a larger size, so I won't have to manually increase type size each time I open a new file?

-In Draft view, when I add background color to document (I like gray), I lose formatting.

-Where can I find a good list of all the function keys in Mac Word?

Thanks.

[Paddy]

Welcome to TS, Ron! (are you the writer, BTW? I'm the admin who approved your registration, so I saw your email addy )

This will help with some of the questions: http://grok.lsu.edu/Article.aspx?articleId=74391.

1. A little confused here - are you saying that with Word already open, how can you create a new file on the desktop/folder without selecting a location for the file? You can create a new file easily (command + N) but it's not saved anywhere until you actually save it. If you click in a location outside of Word, then you'll be in the Finder, not Word and right-clicking won't do a thing in Word (only in the Finder)
2. Command + Y
3. Draft Layout will show just a line between the pages
4. I agree - the size is too small if you have a big monitor!
Found this: http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.p...b03716790?pli=1 - See Daiya Mitchell's post about editing the .dotm file.

I think that might do it. (I'd copy the existing one first and save it somewhere on the desktop and then edit the one in the Library...just in case.)

5. Are you adding a background color via the Formatting Palette->Shading->Add color? I've tried it on a couple of documents in Draft mode and the formatting didn't change. I didn't have anything complex in there - what is changing for you? (Screen shots can be posted here and might help)Hope that helps a bit.

Just a quick addition - Daiya's instructions worked - I just did it!

QUOTE

Use File | Open to open your Normal template at [username]/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/User Templates/Normal.dotm. Make sure to use File | Open from within Word. Set the desired size (and view? and zoom?) you want documents to be. Type a space and then delete it--the point of this is to make sure Word thinks there is a change that needs to be saved, without actually leaving text in Normal. Save and close. All new documents created henceforth should use those view settings.

It's been a minor pet peeve which I never thought about actually fixing, so thanks for asking the question Ron!!

[Xairbusdriver]

First, Welcome Aboard, Ron!

Second, congratulations on switching! While I've heard of some going back to Windows, they are extremely rare.

Third, we have some folks well versed in Word on the Mac as well as on Windows. So, no matter what I say, wait and see if you don't get some more usable help!

Fourth, I'm not a Word user, much less a Windows fan (although I do have some window screens...). But, I never let inexperience or lack of knowledge prevent me from giving advice. So...

QUOTE

Instantly opening a new file

The basic method of creating a new document/window/etc. in every Mac program is by pressing command+N. However, where it will be created is set either in the programs preferences or when it is Saved, the first time. Word, of course, may have another way to do everything at once.

BTW, get used to the "command" key. That is the one that will usually replace any "Alt" key combo you used in Windows. If you know an 'alt + SomeKey' in Word, just try it by swapping the 'command' key for the 'alt' key. Your 'command' key may have the actual word 'command' on it or what most of us call the four-leaf clover on it. It might even have the Apple trademark (an apple) on it.

QUOTE

Move cursor to previous location or to beginning or end of document.

I have no idea on the first part, but usually command + one of the arrow keys will take you to one extreme or the other in any document.

QUOTE

In my setup, 12 pt type in Mac Word is quite small. Is there an easy way to set the default so 12 point is a larger size, so I won't have to manually increase type size each time I open a new file?

Most of the time, fonts look smaller on a Mac than on most Windows/PC monitors. It has nothing to do with the actual point setting, of course. It is simply a matter of the resolution of the monitor. As you probably know, LCD monitors are not very good at using resolutions different from their native one. But there are a couple of suggestions:

1. Setting a default in any Mac app is usually done in the apps Preferences. Those same settings are usually called "Properties" in a Windows app. There should be a menu item in the "Word" menu called "Preferences (command+, [comma] should bring that up, also). Of course, Word may also have individual preferences for each document you create.
2. If Word has a magnification option on its windows (100%, 125%, 150%, 75%, etc.) try using that.
3. Different fonts are actually more or less legible at the same point settings. You could try a different, but similar font or font family.
4. Use a larger, secondary monitor, at least when at work/home, so you can view a whole page nearer to its actual size.
5. Make sure you have anti-aliasing enabled.

I'll stop there, someone else may have already answered all your questions by the time I send this, anyway!

[jchuzi]

QUOTE(Ron @ Mar 21 2010, 04:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

-In my setup, 12 pt type in Mac Word is quite small. Is there an easy way to set the default so 12 point is a larger size, so I won't have to manually increase type size each time I open a new file?

Go to the Format menu and click Font. You'll be able to change your settings. Then, click Default and click Yes at the prompt.

For a complete explanation, go to Word's Help menu, click Word Help and search for "Set the default font for new documents"

[Texas Mac Man]

Look at these kbd shortcut links.
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/msword_keyboard.htm
http://mac360.com/index.php/mac360/comment...uts_on_the_mac/

Also, with Word open, click on it's Help menu.

[Paddy]

Guys, you might want to read what Ron wrote a little more carefully - and what I wrote in response.

He knows about magnifying the text (not the font SIZE, Jon) - he just doesn't want to have to do it EVERY time he opens a new document. I understand - I think it's too small too, if you have a large monitor with a fairly fine resolution. There is no way to fix that in the preferences - the default is 100%. You CAN change it by editing the .dotm file which is the Normal template that Word uses to open a new document. You can, of course, create your own templates, but that ZOOM function won't be changed unless you edit the .dotm template. Believe me - the solution I gave answers the question he's asking. (And also ended one of my pet peeves with Word too...)

I also edited my response above to make all the points stand out. (An edit messed up the formatting - I don't know why this happens sometimes)

[krissel]

Just one little addenda, while the Command key sometimes takes the place of the Alt key in a few combos, for the vast majority of uses the Option key is the equal to the Alt. In fact both "Alt" and "Option" appear together on the same keys (and I'm using a 13 year old Apple keyboard.  

Welcome Ron to TS!  

Oh, here is a link to a pdf with all kinds of special marks/glyphs and the key combos to make them:

http://www.gosquared.com/images/help_sheet..._Glyphs_All.pdf

[Jack W]

I Think I learned a heck of a lot on this thread.

I printed out a lot of the referenced sites for inclusion in my Help folder in my filing cabinet.

Thanks to all of you that contributed.

And, Ron, I hope that you gained a lot!

And, may I add my  to you, Ron!

You will benefit greatly by frequent visits to this site.

As you can see, there are a lot of good folks here.

- Jack

[pendragon]

Ron,

In addition to the wealth of information you will get here, a nice adjunct (IMNHO) is: Office 2008, The Missing Manual.

And indeed, a most hearty welcome!

[Xairbusdriver]

Ron, couldn't help but think of you when I finally got around to looking at my latest copy of Macworld! There, in the Mac 911 section is a question about getting to the end of a Word document! Mr. Breen suggested the same thing I did, except that I forgot your using a MBP. You may need to add the "FN" key to the command + arrow keys:

fn + command+right arrow = end of document
fn + command + left arrow = start of document
fn + command + up/down arrow = up/down one page at a time

That last keyboard shortcut may not work, it's not clear to me if they work in Word or all Microsoft apps. He also suggested that there is a preference area that might enable these and more shortcuts: Tools->Customize Keyboard, select All Commands in the Categories pane.

Good luck if you choose to take this assignment. These recording will self-erase in 15 seconds...