Formatting toolbar gone...Jellybean what?

[nancylai05]

Version: 2004
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

Hi, experts...

I'm just a little English teacher trying to get her Microsoft word to work...

Here's the deal:

Formatting toolbar is gone, despite my doing the following:

a) Clicking "view," "toolbar" then "formatting." It's checked off, but no go.
b) Renamed, then deleted the "normal" template as per Apple store representative directions.
c) Clicking through "view," "customize," and "reset."
d) Read through the threads...I can't seem to find a "jellybean" that does anything. There's an oval shaped button, but all that does is split the Word screen into two parts.

Basically I've gone through every iteration that I can conceive. I know I can customize a toolbar with the same tools, but I was hoping someone would have a solution that will just give me back my "Formatting".

Thanks!

 

[nancylai05]

Sorry--I wanted to add that when I click "view," then "full screen," the Formatting toolbar reappears...then disappears if I unclick "full screen."

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Nancy -

The oblong button referred to as a "jellybean" in other posts is directly
above the one that splits the document window - in the extreme upper right
corner of the window. It Collapses/Expands the toolbars which are docked in
the window itself... But based on your description I don't think that's your
answer. If it were you wouldn't be seeing the Standard Toolbar either - but
you make no mention of that one being missing.

It sounds more like your Formatting Toolbar *isn't* actually docked in the
first place. If it were it wouldn't show up in Full Screen View. In fact,
what you describe in your other post is exactly the opposite of what the
behavior should be - Full Screen should not display any toolbars when you
first switch to it. Try this:

Go to View> Customize Toolbars & Menus - Toolbars. Put a check in the Dock
column adjacent to the Formatting toolbar. [Confirm that there is also a
check in the Show column.] See if that doesn't put it right.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[nancylai05]

Hi, thanks for the help. However, I did what you asked...I went to "view," then "toolbars," then "customize toolbars/menus"...

"Menu bar," "standard," and "formatting" are all checked, as well as "Show ScreenTips on Toolbars" and "Show shortcut keys in ScreenTips" and "WYSIWYG font menus"

and still no go...I hate emoticons, but...

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Nancy -

Thanks for the detail, but I'm afraid you omitted the most important one -
or at least didn't mention it explicitly. In the list of toolbars there are
3 columns: Show || Toolbars & Menu Bar || Dock. The Dock column is the one
I'm concerned about. Is there a check in that column adjacent to the listing
for the Formatting toolbar? I can't be sure because you mention "Menu bar"
in what you say is checked but the Menu Bar *doesn't* have a checkbox in the
Dock column - it can't be undocked (floating).

If that still doesn't correct it please indicate where the Formatting
Toolbar shows up when you go to Full Screen: Is it Docked or floating & if
it's floating exactly where does it appear on screen? [This is more for my
own curiosity in order to better understand what may be at fault.]

If we're still bar-less try these in this order & see if one fixes it:

1- Similar to what was previously suggested at the Apple Store go into the
Customize dialog's list of toolbars but make sure you click on the *name* of
the Formatting toolbar before clicking the Reset Button. If that fails...

2- Go back to the same place but click on the name of the Menu Bar, then
click Reset. If that doesn't do it...

3- Go to the Commands page of that dialog. There will be a Menu Toolbar
immediately below the actual main Menu. Drag the View menu off the bar & let
it go, the scroll in the list of Categories to select Built-in Menus. From
the list of Commands drag View up to it's rightful place from which you
removed it - you'll see a vertical blue insertion indicator when in the
correct spot between Edit & Insert.

4- If neither works I'm convinced it must be a corrupt preference file. Shut
down Word & navigate to:

~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.Word.plist

Drag that file to your Desktop then restart Word. (It will create a new file
as it restarts so it may take a moment longer than usual.) If that resolves
it you can trash the original prefs file, if it still doesn't fix it let us
know.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[nancylai05]

Hi, again! (Thanks so much for taking the time, btw.)

I'm not sure what you mean by the three columns...and I'm definitely not seeing a "dock" column.

Also, when I enter "full screen" the formatting toolbar appears right above the standard toolbar. However, I distinctly remember it appearing elsewhere when I clicked on "full screen" the first time.

1 & 2. I tried resetting both the formatting and the menu bar in "customize"--nothing.

3. I moved the "View Toolbars" onto the Menu Toolbar. It was placed successfully, however if I tried to click that button, it wouldn't reveal any commands.

4. I deleted the plist once yesterday and once this morning. Nothing happening.

Argh.

Please let me know if I should be more detailed about what I'm doing.

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Nancy -

My apologies - I was thinking in terms of 2008. Your version doesn't have
the Dock column nor does it present the "jellybean" button so disregard my
reference to them. [No excuse - just explanation - I'm currently involved
with 7 different versions of Office on 4 different operating systems &
sometimes my ancient synapses misfire.]

Let's approach this from the beginning rather than tying to pick up the
reins in the middle of the race.

What is your current build of Office & OS X? Office should be 11.5.1 and
10.5.4 is the latest update to Leopard. If you aren't at those levels the
first thing you need to do is apply the respective updates. (The Office
11.5.1 update requires 11.5.0 first.) Then run Disk Utility - Repair Disk
Permissions... If updates are already current repair permissions anyway.

Reply with this information & we'll go from there.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[loudone]

I am having the same problem...it is almost as if the formatting palette has fallen off the end of the screen...can anyone help?

 

[John McGhie]

No. Until you give us the version of Word and your OS, we cannot answer
this.

I am having the same problem...it is almost as if the formatting palette has
fallen off the end of the screen...can anyone help?

--

Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP, Word and Word:Mac
Nhulunbuy, NT, Australia. mailto:[email protected]

 

[CyberTaz]

No, you don't have the same problem - There is a distinct difference between
the Formatting *Palette* and the Formatting *Toolbar*.

As John requested, start a new message & state all particulars pertinent to
your situation & configuration. "Me too" replies don't enable anyone to
provide the assistance you need.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[KatherineG]

I am having the exact same problem. It says that my Formatting toolbar is
visible, but it's not anywhere on my screen. I've tried resetting the
toolbars, I've looked all around my desktop...it's truly a mystery. My
version of Microsoft Office is 2004 for Mac. And my Macbook has Mac OS X
version 10.5.5.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I am having the exact same problem. It says that my Formatting toolbar is
visible, but it's not anywhere on my screen. I've tried resetting the
toolbars, I've looked all around my desktop...it's truly a mystery. My
version of Microsoft Office is 2004 for Mac. And my Macbook has Mac OS X
version 10.5.5.

One way:

Type Opt-F11 to enter the VB Editor.

Type CMD-G to open the Immediate Window.

In the Immediate Window, type or paste these lines, each followed by
Return:

CommandBars("Formatting").Protection = msoBarNoProtection

CommandBars("Formatting").Position = msoBarFloating

CommandBars("Formatting").Left =100

CommandBars("Formatting").Top = 100

Type Opt-F11 to return to Word. The Formatting toolbar should appear
near the top-left corner of your screen.