4.6.3 The Formatting Toolbar

Changing the font style and its size:

To quickly change all the text that is formatted with a particular style, you can redefine the style. For example, if your main headings are 14 pt Arial, flush left, and bold, and you later decide you want your headings to be 16 pt, Arial Narrow, and centered, you don't have to reformat every main heading in your document. Instead, just change the properties of that style.

Modify a style:

1. On the Format menu, click Style.

2. In the Styles box, select the style you want to modify, and then click Modify.

Note that when you change a formatting element of the base style in a document, all styles that originate from the base style in that document will also reflect the change.

You can also have Word modify a style automatically, meaning that Word detects when you alter the formatting of text containing a style, and then automatically updates the style. When Word automatically updates the style, all text formatted with that style is updated to match the formatting of the text you just changed.

Displaying the Current Format:

1.       Select the text for which you want to display its format.

2.       On the Format menu, click Font.

A Window as shown in Figure 4.6.3 displays the current format.

Aligning Text

1.       Click the text you want to align.

2.       To align horizontally oriented text, use the Align Left  , Center  , Right , and Justify  buttons on the Formatting toolbar.

3.       To align vertically oriented text, use the Align Top , Center  , Align Bottom  , and Justify  buttons on the Formatting toolbar.

4.6.4 The Ruler

Depending on your program’s current setup, you might see word’s Horizontal ruler below the menu and the toolbars. The ruler shows you the current left and right margins and any indents or special tab stops defined for the current section of text. If you don’t see the ruler, you can display it by selecting View-Ruler.

Note: You can temporarily display the ruler by resting the mouse cursor directly under the formatting toolbar. The toolbar will appear for as long as you leave the mouse there.

4.6.5 The Menu Commands

You can use menus to give Microsoft Word instructions about what you want to do.

A menu displays a list of commands. Some of the commands have images next to them so you can quickly associate the command with the image. Most menus are located on the menu bar at the top of the Word window. Shortcut menus are available when you right-click text, objects, or other items.

4.6.6 The Shortcut Menu Commands

You can display a shortcut editing menu by pressing the right mouse button. You can then pick the desired operation. The Shortcut menu is intended to save time, as it puts commonly used editing operations at your fingertips. It eliminates the need to move the mouse to the top of the document to pull down a menu.