Auto Text Entries

[Jan]

Word 2007 - I have several (consecutive) paragraphs I would like to enter
into a document by simply typing a few characters, but can't seem to find
where to make the entry. There are more than 255 characters, so I can't use
Auto Correct. Where's Auto Text hiding ?

 

[Reitanos]

Not hiding, banished! You may be stuck with making a macro to that
job.

 

[Terry Farrell]

AutoText is now called Quick Parts and is under the Insert menu. However,
you can still use it like Autotext by creating your text, selecting it and
using Alt+F3 to create a new Quick Part. Note that the dialog is now
slightly different. If you click on the Gallery option, you'll note that the
top choice is still called Autotext! You can add Insert, AutoText to the
QAT.

 

[Jan]

Thanks Terry. Is there a keyboard stroke that can be used to enter the
"Quick Part" without having to stop typing and clicking on Insert and Quick
Parts ? (Whose dumb idea was this anyway ?? !!)

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Type the first few letters and press F3. Alternatively, you can create
AutoCorrect entries instead.

 

[Terry Farrell]

As Suzanne says... not quite the same (or as good) as previous AutoText as
there are no AutoComplete pop-ups (except for dates).

Terry

 

[Jan Groshan]

That does it. Thanks. Why is it improvements generally aren't ! BTW,
AutoCorrect entries are fine for short sentences but there's a 255 character
limit and I wanted to AutoText 3 paragraphs. Now I know the (well kept)
secret ! Thanks to all in the group for their help.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Are you sure there is such a limitation for AutoCorrect entries? There is no
mention of AutoCorrect in “Operating Parameter Limitations and
Specifications in Word” (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=211489), but the
limit for AutoText applies only to the entry name (32 characters).

Ah, wait, here it is: it's 255 for plain text; no limit for formatted (but
31-character limit for the replace text). See
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/180165.

 

[jenkvt]

Boy whoever dreamed up the QuickPart feature doesn't know squat about
repetitive entries. I work for a law firm and we use repetition all the time
- Autotext was a lifesaver during many a brief/legal opinion - you know how
verbose lawyers can be. I curse the brilliant bozo who "improved" Word 2003
by eliminating the autotext feature. To take one's hands off the keyboard
(or do multiple keystrokes to find the entry) does NOT save any time.
QuickParts my eye. I am not a happy camper. :-(

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

AutoCorrect still works as before and can be useful for many entries of this
type.

 

[Jan Groshan]

But Auto Text is confined to only 255 characters.....not much if you'r
typing a whole paragraph.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

The length of formatted AutoCorrect entries is not limited. AutoText is
unlimited.

 

[Graham Mayor]

Both autotext and autocorrect can hold anything that you can reasonably
insert into a document including graphics, tables and text running to many
pages.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[Jan Groshan]

I stand corrected. FORMATTED entries work. PLAIN TEXT is limited to 255
characters. Guess I got confused by an earlier reply that said :

AutoText is now called Quick Parts and is under the Insert menu.
"However, you can still use it like Autotext by creating your text,
selecting
it and using Alt+F3 to create a new Quick Part. Note that the dialog is
now
slightly different. If you click on the Gallery option, you'll note
that the top choice is still called Autotext! You can add Insert, AutoText
to the QAT."

So now I have a new questions .... what's the difference between AutoText
and Quick Parts ?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Good question. Microsoft hasn't entirely distinguished between "building
blocks" and "quick parts." The only things listed on the Quick Parts
(forgive me) menu* besides AutoText are Fields (not exactly quick, usually)
and Document Properties (which are also fields) and the Building Blocks
Organizer, in which you can see the contents of the various "galleries"
(one of which is AutoText), and if you click on "Get More on Office
Online...," you get a list of "building blocks," not Quick Parts.

*Word 2007 supposedly doesn't have "menus," but IMO if it walks like a duck
and quacks like a duck...