Hidden Features in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word comes with lots of features, many of which do not appear on menus or toolbars unless you put them there. Some of these features aren't even documented. Nevertheless, some of them are very useful for editing, writing, typesetting, and other publishing tasks. From time to time I'll write about these features in Editorium Update. For now, I just want to show you where the features are so you can start exploring them and putting the ones you like on menus, toolbars, and keyboard combinations for easy access.

In Word 6 and 95, you can see (and run) *any* of Word's features like this:

1. Click the "Tools" menu.

2. Click "Macro."

3. In the "Macros Available In" box, find and click "Word Commands."

4. In the "Macro Name" list, you'll see all of Word's features.

5. Click a feature that looks interesting. You'll see a brief description of the feature in the "Description" box.

6. Click the "Run" button to run the feature.

In Word 97 and above, you can see (and run) *any* of Word's features like this:

1. Click the "Tools" menu.

2. Click "Macro."

3. Click "Macros."

4. In the "Macros in" box, find and click "Word commands."

5. In the "Macro name" list, you'll see all of Word's features.

6. Click a feature that looks interesting. You'll see a brief description of the feature in the "Description" box.

7. Click the "Run" button to run the feature.

If you want to add a feature to a menu, toolbar, or keyboard combination, follow the procedures for adding a macro as explained in past issues of Editorium Update:

Adding menu items: http://www.topica.com/lists/editorium/read/message.html?mid=1707444986

Adding toolbar buttons: http://www.topica.com/lists/editorium/read/message.html?mid=1707286867

Adding keyboard shortcuts (Readers Write column): http://www.topica.com/lists/editorium/read/message.html?mid=1707100224

The only difference in the procedures is that in the "Categories" list, you should click "All Commands" instead of "Macros."

One caution: Please don't try any of these features on a document with any importance. Just use a test document with some junk text until you understand exactly what a feature does and feel comfortable using it. Have fun spelunking!

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