Microsoft's online training and help

Microsoft has a lot of really good Web pages and videos to help ease into Word 2007.

Here's a pick-list:

• » If you know Word XP or 2003 and get frustrated trying to find commands in 2007, you've got to try this Command Translator—from old (Office XP or 2003 to new (Office 2007): You pull down a menu on a screen from the old Word, and it automatically changes into a Word 2007 screen showing the new location. Use on the Web or download to your own (Windows) computer: http://tinyurl.com/24654r
• » Quick Reference Card: Guide to most-used features and links to demos and training, including some listed here.
• » Microsoft Word 2007 Home page: http://tinyurl.com/2mpftj
• » What’s new in Word 2007: http://tinyurl.com/2wapc8: A handy listing of new features.
• » Word’s new “Building Blocks:” Pre-designed Headers, Footers, Text Boxes, Cover Pages and more, that you can insert with one click:
  http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA102445941033.aspx
• » Guide to keyboard shortcuts: http://tinyurl.com/yoml25 and http://tinyurl.com/2u4mvz
• » Roadmap to Microsoft’s online training for Word: http://tinyurl.com/2f3ndy
  Training modules for Word arranged by interest area (like "getting Familiar with Word' or "Finishing touches") with links to go directly to them.
• » Microsoft Word Online Training. Longer training modules with text, pictures and video segments arranged by topic. Mostly really well done: http://tinyurl.com/2vpab3

Some other sources

Here are some of the best links I've been able to find:

• The Word 2007 site: http://www.word07.com/
  A table of contents that ranges from What's New through: The Ribbon, Mini Toolbars, Quick Access, Toolbar, Key Tips, Office Button, Styles, Themes, SmartArt, Format Painter, File Formats and more. Links to many videos (some done in a charming accent from the North of England).
• Florida Gulf Coast University: http://www.fgcu.edu/support/office2007/word/index.asp
  Another Table-of Contents guide to every aspect of Word 2007. Not as fancy as the previous link, but comprehensive.
• YouTube has many videos on the new versions of Word - just search in the site.

Bad Habits in Word

If you're moving on to Word 2007 this is a good time to revamp your word-processing skills.

Ever have a lot of trouble lining up related items in columns across the page? Or wondered why your lines reformat strangely after you change margins? Or just suspected that there was a better way to do something in Word?

Here's a document [PDF] that can help.

 

Mail Merge 2007

I know, I always have to look it up, too. So I wrote my own document on how to do Mail Merge in Word 2007 Word - PDF

 

Common Word Concerns

In Octgober 2008, folks in the library asked for some help with Word 2007. Here is my attempt to answer some of their concerns.

Summarized in a PDF

 

Word Styles

In Word 2007 Styles are placed front and center and are worth looking into.

For example: To make the No Spacing option stick for other documents, you must use Styles.

 

International Characters

Here's how to type common International characters on a Windows PC or a Mac.