The title bar is found at the top of the application window. It identifies the name of the active document (Document1 or file name)and the name of the application (Microsoft Word). Also found on the title bar is the Control Menu Icon on the far left of the Title Bar and the Program and Document Controls on the far right side of the title bar.
MS Word Desktop - Control Menu Icon
The Control Menu Icon is located on the far left side of the Title Bar. You control the size and position of the window using its menu choices.
MS Word Desktop - Window Controls
The Window Control buttons are located on the far right hand side of the Title bar. The three controls are Minimize, Maximize/Restore Down, and Close. The Document Close button is located just below the Window Controls on the Application Menu bar.
Minimize Button
The minimize button is the first control button and it is visually represented by a minus sign. When you click on it, the application window will be reduced to an icon on the task bar. To redisplay the window, click on the taskbar button.
Maximize/Restore Button
The Maximize/Restore button is the middle control button and is visually represented by a Window icon. When you click on it, it controls the size of the window display. Restore down reduces the window to a smaller size on the desk top. Maximize resizes the window display fill the entire desktop.
Application Close Button
The Application close button is the third control button and is visually represented by a X. When you click on it, it closes the application window. In MS Word, if you have not saved your most recent edits, the system will prompt you to save when you click on the Application Close Button.
Document Close Button
The Document Close Button is visually represented by a X. When you click on it, it closes the current document window. If you have not saved your most recent edits, Word will prompt you to save prior to closing the document.
MS Word Desktop - Menu Bar
MS Word’s Menu bar gives you access to all of the Word’s commands. When you click on a menu selection it displays the commands from which you can select. On the left side of the cascading menu, you will see some menu choices with icon displays. These icons tell you that the menu command is also represented on one of the Tool Bars. Commands that have equivalent keyboard activation will show the keystroke combination on the right of the menu command. Menu choices with a small right pointing arrow heard have sub-menus that will display when you hover your mouse pointer over the main menu choice. Commands that are light grey are ones that currently are not active based on your selection.
There is certain logic in the menu structure with which you will become familiar with experience. For example, if you wanted to change the appearance of your text, you want to format it. Commands for formatting characters and paragraphs will naturally be found on the Format menu. Look at the menu choice and reason out what types of commands might be found within their selection. Don’t try to memorize command locations, but rather try to logically think about where it might be located within the menu choices.
MS Word Desktop - Ask A Question Box
New in MS Word XP (2002) is the Ask a Question box located on the far right hand side of the menu bar. Since the MS Office Assistant does not display by default, the Ask a Question box gives quick access to the help journals. It works similarly to the MS Office Assistant. Type in a key term or question and then, press enter. A list of possible topics will be displayed in a drop down below the Ask a Question box. Generally, you will see about 8 – 10 topics that best fit your question. The first 4 or 5 will be displayed with a “See More” selection at the bottom to display the next 4 or 5. The last choice is most likely to be None of the Above Search the Web. Choosing this selection will launch your browser and take you to the MS Knowledge base with possible choices. Click on the option that most closely matches the topic with which you need help. Word will launch the help feature and take you directly to the topic you selected.
MS Word Desktop - Standard Toolbar
Directly below the Menu bar, you will find the Standard Tool bar. Toolbars provide one click access to frequently used commands. The standard toolbar displays commands that are generally associated with file and data manipulation such as opening, saving, and closing documents; Copy, Cut, and Paste commands etc.
MS Word Desktop - Formatting Toolbar
The Formatting Toolbar may be located aside and to the right of the Standard Toolbar (depending on which version of Word you are using) or directly below the Standard Toolbar. The Formatting toolbar provides one click access to frequently used format commands. You can use it to quickly change the font, text size, attributes, paragraph alignment etc.
MS Word Desktop - Rulers
Just above the document and below the Formatting Toolbar is the horizontal alignment ruler. This ruler provides a visual measurement for your margins and tabs. It also is used to manipulate your margins and insert tabs and indents to suit your document style.
MS Word Desktop - Text Area
This is the white space below the ruler in which you construct your document.
MS Word Desktop - Insertion Point
You will see a blinking vertical bar located in the text area that is commonly know as the insertion point. Text that you type will be inserted directly in front of the insertion point. You can readily move the insertion point within your document by positioning your mouse pointer where yo want to move it to, and then click the mouse button. You can also use your keyboard arrows to move your insertion a single character at a time to the left or right as determined by the arrow direction. The up and down arrows will move the insertion point up or down a line of text in alignment with its starting point.
MS Word Desktop - Scroll Bars
Scroll bars are navigation tools found along the right side and bottom of the application widow. Use the scroll bars to view different parts of your document. Keep in mind that when you use the scroll bars to navigate, your insertion point does NOT move with the scroll action. If you want to add text to the area of the document to which you have scrolled you must move your insertion point by clicking where you want to insert.
MS Word Desktop - View Buttons
At the bottom of the document area and to the right of the horizontal scroll bar you will find four view buttons. These buttons are used to change the appearance (view) of your document. Changing the view does not affect the format of the document but rather how you see the document on the screen. Chose from the Normal View, Web View, Print Layout View and Outline View in Word XP. Prior versions of word do not include the Web view but do have another outline type view. Which view you chose will depend on your objectives and preferences. Experiment with each to determine which suits your work habits best.
MS Word Desktop - Select Browse Object
The Select Browse Object button is located below the vertical scroll bar on the right. It is used to move quickly between objects in your document. You can browse by page, section, comments, footnote, endnote, field, table, graphic, headings or edits. You can also access the GoTo and Find commands from this button. Use the previous and next button above and below the Select Browse Object to move from the object to object based on the type you selected. For example, suppose you want to review the graphic objects in your lengthy document. Place your insertion point at the top of your document, click on the Select Browse Object button and select Graphics, Click on the next button (downward pointing arrows) to move to the first graphic in your document. Keep clicking Next until you have review all graphics.
MS Word Desktop - Status Bar
The Status bar at the bottom of MS Word's application window is a powerful tool. It gives you an orientation as to where you are in your documents. Reading across the line it indicates the following information about where you are in your document:
- page displayed on the screen
- section displayed on the screen
- what page the insertion point is located on and how many pages are in the document
- inches from the top of the document (keep in mind this includes the top margin)
- the line number of the page the insertion point is on
- the character position of the insertion point on the current line
MS Word Desktop - Task Pane
The task pane is a new feature of the MS Office suite. The task panes are intended to give you easy access to commands related to what you are working on in your document. Task panes include:
- New Document – for opening a document, creating a new document, creating a new document from an existing document (i.e., copy of the existing), selecting a template
- Clipboard – the clipboard accumulates and displays the last 24 items you copied or cut within your document or from another applications giving you the ability to reuse the item multiple times as needed.
- Search – provides you with the ability to search the current document for your system for files or key words
- Insert Clip Art – provides easy access to the clip art files located on your computer as well as those offered by Microsoft's Online Design Gallery.
- Styles – helps you to organize and manage styles within your document
- Reveal Format – provides you with formatting information about your current selection.
- Mail Merge – use this tool to merge source information with a "form" letter or address labels and envelopes.
- Translate – Word's first attempt at providing a utility to translate your document to other languages.
MS Word Desktop - Task Bar
The task bar is part of your Window's operating system and is located at the very bottom of your screen. It displays the Start menu button and a button for each Windows document or application you currently have running. It also may display the quick launch toolbar. On the far right is the system tray which displays icons for programs that launch when you start up your computer.
