Erratic "select style" keyboard shortcut behavior? Please?

[Bill Weylock]

In previous versions of Word (98 and earlier), I do not recall having this
problem. My recollection is that it was less frequent in X. It is easy to
reproduce in 2004....

I use styles all the time and rely on being able to apply them quickly when
I am writing and editing. So way back I learned that I could assign more
than one ³name² to a style: one that describes what it does (i.e.,
³reporttext² or ³lettertext² or ³bullet² or ³bullet2²) and another that lets
me apply it with a keyboard shortcut (i.e., [for the four just mentioned]
³r² or ³lt² or ³b² or ³b2²). So the style names look like this:
³reporttext,r² or ³lettertext,lt² or ³bullet,b² or ³bullet2,b2²].

So to change a block from report text (double spaced, Times Roman) to letter
text (single spaced, Optima) I put the cursor in the paragraph and key
Cmd-Shift-S, followed by lt.

Compared to the setup, explaining the problem is simple: it doesn¹t work. At
least it usually doesn¹t work. I try to invoke the ³lt² style, and Word
creates a new style called lt formatted like the paragraph I am trying to
change.

Help? Please? It¹s one of my basic writing tools, and it cost me something
like an hour on a writing deadline the other day having to use the arrow
keys to navigate among styles.

Almost worse: sometimes it does work; and I can¹t figure out what I¹m doing
wrong.

Thanks for anything you can add.


Best,


- Bill

 

[Elliott Roper]

So to change a block from report text (double spaced, Times Roman) to letter
text (single spaced, Optima) I put the cursor in the paragraph and key
Cmd-Shift-S, followed by lt.

I don't have 2004 yet, but with V.x, you need to have the formatting
palette on screen and its font triangle turned down to expose that
behaviour. My trick is to set the stupid palette up then drag it almost
off-screen. If you do not do that cmd-shift-s "might" offer you a style
with the same initial letter.

Word 5.1a. A huge advance on its successors.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I don't have 2004 yet, but with V.x, you need to have the formatting
palette on screen and its font triangle turned down to expose that
behaviour. My trick is to set the stupid palette up then drag it almost
off-screen. If you do not do that cmd-shift-s "might" offer you a style
with the same initial letter.

Not necessary with Word2004 - the formatting palette can be closed and
the format will still be applied.

 

[Bill Weylock]

Elliott -


That's from trial and error? I'm sure it's not intended behavior?

Or is it?

Thanks in either case.


Best,


- Bill

 

[Clive Huggan]

Bill,

I can imagine your frustration ‹ I do exactly the same as you do and would
do anything to retain the functionality.

I don¹t have the problem in Word 2004 and ‹ sorry ‹ I don¹t have a clue how
to fix your problem. Hopefully someone else can take you through that.

My suggestion is a slightly feeble work-around while you fix it: make
buttons on a customized toolbar. See under the heading ³Creating buttons on
toolbars to apply selected styles and formatting² and in appendix E, in the
notes on the way I use Word, titled "Bend Word to your Will", downloadable
free at http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/WordMac/Bend/BendWord.htm

Alternatively, nominate a keystroke to open the Format menu -> Style window
(I use Command-t, the old Word 5.1 command) then key the first letter of the
style¹s abbreviated [=²lt²] title ‹ the list will go to the ³L² entries ->
OK.

But that¹s not much help in the long term :-\

To help others who might have the answer: does this happen in all documents,
all documents created from your blank new documents, or in documents
received from others?

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is at least 5 hours different from the US and Europe,
so my follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
============================================================

In previous versions of Word (98 and earlier), I do not recall having this
problem. My recollection is that it was less frequent in X. It is easy to
reproduce in 2004....

I use styles all the time and rely on being able to apply them quickly when I
am writing and editing. So way back I learned that I could assign more than
one ³name² to a style: one that describes what it does (i.e., ³reporttext² or
³lettertext² or ³bullet² or ³bullet2²) and another that lets me apply it with
a keyboard shortcut (i.e., [for the four just mentioned] ³r² or ³lt² or ³b² or
³b2²). So the style names look like this: ³reporttext,r² or ³lettertext,lt² or
³bullet,b² or ³bullet2,b2²].

So to change a block from report text (double spaced, Times Roman) to letter
text (single spaced, Optima) I put the cursor in the paragraph and key
Cmd-Shift-S, followed by lt.

Compared to the setup, explaining the problem is simple: it doesn¹t work. At
least it usually doesn¹t work. I try to invoke the ³lt² style, and Word
creates a new style called lt formatted like the paragraph I am trying to
change.

Help? Please? It¹s one of my basic writing tools, and it cost me something
like an hour on a writing deadline the other day having to use the arrow keys
to navigate among styles.

Almost worse: sometimes it does work; and I can¹t figure out what I¹m doing
wrong.

Thanks for anything you can add.


Best,


- Bill

 

[Bill Weylock]

Except that it won't. Would it were not so.

Did you see the description of the problem?

Are you assuming I am doing something wrong, or do you know something I
don't?

 

[Bill Weylock]

Thanks, but a toolbar is exactly what I want to avoid.

Toolbars are not for typists, as I¹m sure you agree.

Do I understand that you do or do not see this behavior yourself? If I¹m
alone, that¹s great news because I¹ll reinstall.

Thanks again.


Best,


- Bill

Bill,

I can imagine your frustration ‹ I do exactly the same as you do and would do
anything to retain the functionality.

I don¹t have the problem in Word 2004 and ‹ sorry ‹ I don¹t have a clue how to
fix your problem. Hopefully someone else can take you through that.

My suggestion is a slightly feeble work-around while you fix it: make buttons
on a customized toolbar. See under the heading ³Creating buttons on toolbars
to apply selected styles and formatting² and in appendix E, in the notes on
the way I use Word, titled "Bend Word to your Will", downloadable free at
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/WordMac/Bend/BendWord.htm

Alternatively, nominate a keystroke to open the Format menu -> Style window (I
use Command-t, the old Word 5.1 command) then key the first letter of the
style¹s abbreviated [=²lt²] title ‹ the list will go to the ³L² entries -> OK.

But that¹s not much help in the long term :-\

To help others who might have the answer: does this happen in all documents,
all documents created from your blank new documents, or in documents received
from others?

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is at least 5 hours different from the US and Europe,
so my follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
============================================================

In previous versions of Word (98 and earlier), I do not recall having this
problem. My recollection is that it was less frequent in X. It is easy to
reproduce in 2004....

I use styles all the time and rely on being able to apply them quickly when I
am writing and editing. So way back I learned that I could assign more than
one ³name² to a style: one that describes what it does (i.e., ³reporttext² or
³lettertext² or ³bullet² or ³bullet2²) and another that lets me apply it with
a keyboard shortcut (i.e., [for the four just mentioned] ³r² or ³lt² or ³b²
or ³b2²). So the style names look like this: ³reporttext,r² or
³lettertext,lt² or ³bullet,b² or ³bullet2,b2²].

So to change a block from report text (double spaced, Times Roman) to letter
text (single spaced, Optima) I put the cursor in the paragraph and key
Cmd-Shift-S, followed by lt.

Compared to the setup, explaining the problem is simple: it doesn¹t work. At
least it usually doesn¹t work. I try to invoke the ³lt² style, and Word
creates a new style called lt formatted like the paragraph I am trying to
change.

Help? Please? It¹s one of my basic writing tools, and it cost me something
like an hour on a writing deadline the other day having to use the arrow keys
to navigate among styles.

Almost worse: sometimes it does work; and I can¹t figure out what I¹m doing
wrong.

Thanks for anything you can add.


Best,


- Bill

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Are you assuming I am doing something wrong, or do you know something I
don't?

Just reporting what I find when I test it. I use the technique all the
time and have no problem applying styles using the keyboard shortcut
CMD-SHIFT-s and the "name,ab" abbreviation. I usually have the
formatting palette open, but not always. On three different
installations of Word2004, I've seen no difference, nor did I when I
tested it again after Elliot's post.

So I'm not assuming that *you're* doing something wrong, but something
is obviously different with your system than mine.

 

[Bill Weylock]

Thanks!

I didn't quite get that from the other post.

I'm finished with deadlines for a little while now, but I'll watch the
behavior very carefully and see if I can isolate the problem. Maybe I don't
wait long enough after the Cmd-Shift-S? As I say, it isn't consistent.



Very best,

- Bill

 

[Clive Huggan]

Comments inline.

CH

Thanks, but a toolbar is exactly what I want to avoid.

Well, I did qualify my suggestion heavily ...

Toolbars are not for typists, as I¹m sure you agree.

I do agree, although sometimes when the moon is full I find myself using my
custom toolbars.

Do I understand that you do or do not see this behavior yourself?

I do not.

If I¹m alone, that¹s great news because I¹ll reinstall.

Make sure you follow the advice given on this newsgroup, including doing a
complete uninstall, or you may not remove the problem. You may be better off
replacing your Normal template first ‹ see Beth Rosengard¹s and Dayo
Mitchell¹s posts on this. But potential helpers are in the dark on your exact
situation ‹ you haven¹t answered the questions in my last post.

Clive Huggan
===========

Thanks again.


Best,


- Bill

Bill,

I can imagine your frustration ‹ I do exactly the same as you do and would do
anything to retain the functionality.

I don¹t have the problem in Word 2004 and ‹ sorry ‹ I don¹t have a clue how
to fix your problem. Hopefully someone else can take you through that.

My suggestion is a slightly feeble work-around while you fix it: make buttons
on a customized toolbar. See under the heading ³Creating buttons on toolbars
to apply selected styles and formatting² and in appendix E, in the notes on
the way I use Word, titled "Bend Word to your Will", downloadable free at
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/WordMac/Bend/BendWord.htm

Alternatively, nominate a keystroke to open the Format menu -> Style window
(I use Command-t, the old Word 5.1 command) then key the first letter of the
style¹s abbreviated [=²lt²] title ‹ the list will go to the ³L² entries ->
OK.

But that¹s not much help in the long term :-\

To help others who might have the answer: does this happen in all documents,
all documents created from your blank new documents, or in documents received
from others?

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is at least 5 hours different from the US and Europe,
so my follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
============================================================

In previous versions of Word (98 and earlier), I do not recall having this
problem. My recollection is that it was less frequent in X. It is easy to
reproduce in 2004....

I use styles all the time and rely on being able to apply them quickly when
I am writing and editing. So way back I learned that I could assign more
than one ³name² to a style: one that describes what it does (i.e.,
³reporttext² or ³lettertext² or ³bullet² or ³bullet2²) and another that lets
me apply it with a keyboard shortcut (i.e., [for the four just mentioned]
³r² or ³lt² or ³b² or ³b2²). So the style names look like this:
³reporttext,r² or ³lettertext,lt² or ³bullet,b² or ³bullet2,b2²].

So to change a block from report text (double spaced, Times Roman) to letter
text (single spaced, Optima) I put the cursor in the paragraph and key
Cmd-Shift-S, followed by lt.

Compared to the setup, explaining the problem is simple: it doesn¹t work. At
least it usually doesn¹t work. I try to invoke the ³lt² style, and Word
creates a new style called lt formatted like the paragraph I am trying to
change.

Help? Please? It¹s one of my basic writing tools, and it cost me something
like an hour on a writing deadline the other day having to use the arrow
keys to navigate among styles.

Almost worse: sometimes it does work; and I can¹t figure out what I¹m doing
wrong.

Thanks for anything you can add.


Best,


- Bill

 

[Bill Weylock]

Didn¹t see the questions last night. Thanks.

Now that I think about it, it was happening in a document built from another
document I had generated. It is entirely possible that the ³template²
document had gone through some revisions on a client¹s PC before being sent
back to me.

When I posted, for all I knew everyone had the same issue. Knowing it is odd
behavior, I will be careful to note circumstances and details of the
problem. And for all we know, it may go away if I simply copy everything but
the last return and paste into a new document. Worth trying.

Thanks!


Best,


- Bill

Comments inline.

CH

Thanks, but a toolbar is exactly what I want to avoid.

Well, I did qualify my suggestion heavily ...

Toolbars are not for typists, as I¹m sure you agree.

I do agree, although sometimes when the moon is full I find myself using my
custom toolbars.

Do I understand that you do or do not see this behavior yourself?

I do not.

If I¹m alone, that¹s great news because I¹ll reinstall.

Make sure you follow the advice given on this newsgroup, including doing a
complete uninstall, or you may not remove the problem. You may be better off
replacing your Normal template first ‹ see Beth Rosengard¹s and Dayo
Mitchell¹s posts on this. But potential helpers are in the dark on your
exact situation ‹ you haven¹t answered the questions in my last post.

Clive Huggan
===========

Thanks again.


Best,


- Bill

Bill,

I can imagine your frustration ‹ I do exactly the same as you do and would
do anything to retain the functionality.

I don¹t have the problem in Word 2004 and ‹ sorry ‹ I don¹t have a clue how
to fix your problem. Hopefully someone else can take you through that.

My suggestion is a slightly feeble work-around while you fix it: make
buttons on a customized toolbar. See under the heading ³Creating buttons on
toolbars to apply selected styles and formatting² and in appendix E, in the
notes on the way I use Word, titled "Bend Word to your Will", downloadable
free at http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/WordMac/Bend/BendWord.htm

Alternatively, nominate a keystroke to open the Format menu -> Style window
(I use Command-t, the old Word 5.1 command) then key the first letter of the
style¹s abbreviated [=²lt²] title ‹ the list will go to the ³L² entries ->
OK.

But that¹s not much help in the long term :-\

To help others who might have the answer: does this happen in all documents,
all documents created from your blank new documents, or in documents
received from others?

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is at least 5 hours different from the US and Europe,
so my follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
============================================================



On 1/7/04 2:22 AM, in article BD0836DD.186FC%[email protected], "Bill Weylock"

In previous versions of Word (98 and earlier), I do not recall having this
problem. My recollection is that it was less frequent in X. It is easy to
reproduce in 2004....

I use styles all the time and rely on being able to apply them quickly when
I am writing and editing. So way back I learned that I could assign more
than one ³name² to a style: one that describes what it does (i.e.,
³reporttext² or ³lettertext² or ³bullet² or ³bullet2²) and another that
lets me apply it with a keyboard shortcut (i.e., [for the four just
mentioned] ³r² or ³lt² or ³b² or ³b2²). So the style names look like this:
³reporttext,r² or ³lettertext,lt² or ³bullet,b² or ³bullet2,b2²].

So to change a block from report text (double spaced, Times Roman) to
letter text (single spaced, Optima) I put the cursor in the paragraph and
key Cmd-Shift-S, followed by lt.

Compared to the setup, explaining the problem is simple: it doesn¹t work.
At least it usually doesn¹t work. I try to invoke the ³lt² style, and Word
creates a new style called lt formatted like the paragraph I am trying to
change.

Help? Please? It¹s one of my basic writing tools, and it cost me something
like an hour on a writing deadline the other day having to use the arrow
keys to navigate among styles.

Almost worse: sometimes it does work; and I can¹t figure out what I¹m doing
wrong.

Thanks for anything you can add.


Best,


- Bill