highlighting one letter not whole word

[JohnCove]

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) Processor: Intel How can I only highlight a letter? When I try and do this a whole word is selected. In earlier versions of Word there was a way of choosing, but I cant see this in 2008.

Also, how can I request that when I open a new document I get a "Draft" view, currently new docs open in "Print layout" view.

Cheers

JohnC

 

[CyberTaz]

Under any circumstances you can use Shift+ the appropriate arrow key to
select by character ‹ usually more efficient than using the mouse for
selecting only a single character or two.

There is a checkbox for "When selecting, automatically select entire word"
in Word> Preferences> Edit, but it shouldn't have any bearing on selecting a
one or more characters within a single Word. It's only if you start a
selection technique in the midst of a word & extend the selection beyond the
end of that word that the preference comes into play. If the box is checked
the selection will be extended 'backward' to include all of the word you
started in.

In order to change the default view for new documents, open your Normal.dotm
file, switch to the preferred view, then type a character or two & deleted
[not Undo] what you typed. Close & save Normal.dotm ‹ new docs created from
that point on should open initially in the view you set.

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

 

[JohnCove]

Many thanks Michael

The advice on selecting letters not whole words worked a treat.

Regarding Normal.dotm, where do I find this? I tried searching in Spotlight but no luck.

Cheers again,

JohnC

 

[CyberTaz]

Not sure who "Michael" is , but Normal.dotm is located in:

~/User/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/User Templates

Note that you do have to navigate to & Open the template ‹ Double-clicking
its icon in a Finder window will just produce a new blank document.

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

 

[JohnCove]

Thanks "Michael", Sorry Bob.

JohnC

 

[JohnCove]

Bob

Followed your instructions for changing the way new docs open. Now great! Thansk so much.

JohnC

 

[JohnCove]

Actually something interesting is happening. If I start from the Word icon I get new document open in "Draft" view, which I have just configured with Normal.dotm.

However, if I open up an existing document which is in "Print Layout" then create a new document this also opens up in "Print Layout", not "Draft" view.

Wouldn't you expect Normal.dotm to open in same way regardless of starting point?

JohnC

 

[CyberTaz]

Yeah, that's true. I don't know whether you want to consider it a "bug" or a
"design" issue. The best explanation I can offer ‹ based strictly on my
'guestimation' ‹ is that a View is essentially a Preference setting, so if
no other files are open Word observes the view preference set in the
Normal.dotm template. However, if another file is already open in a
different view the current preference effectively has been changed (even
though temporarily) so the new document is created according to the view
preference in effect at that time.

I don't know of any way to alter that in Word 2008 other than with an Apple
Script. I've never pursued it, though ‹ it's always been convenient enough
for me to click the Normal/Draft View button or key Command+Option+N.

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

 

[John McGhie]

Hi John:

Yeah, it's a design bug. The "View" setting is both an "Application"
property and a "Document" property.

If no documents are open, the View setting is read into the application from
Normal. Once the Application is running, it stores the View property in
memory.

I control things such as this with an auto-run macro: one reason I don't
attempt commercial work in Word 2008. My efficiency in Word 2008 cannot
approach commercial requirements due to the lack of automation.

Cheers

Actually something interesting is happening. If I start from the Word icon I
get new document open in "Draft" view, which I have just configured with
Normal.dotm.

However, if I open up an existing document which is in "Print Layout" then
create a new document this also opens up in "Print Layout", not "Draft" view.

Wouldn't you expect Normal.dotm to open in same way regardless of starting
point?

JohnC

This email is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
matters unless you intend to pay!

--

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP (Word, Mac Word), Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. | Ph: +61 (0)4 1209 1410
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[JohnCove]

Thanks Bob

Just a point of clarification. When I change Normal.dotm (by opening up, typing a few characters, deleting them, and closing as your instructed) I am asked to 'save'. Should I replace the old Normal.dotm in the Microsoft/Office/User Templates folder?

JohnC

 

[CyberTaz]

Not unless you have a problem with the program that could be attributed to a
corrupt Normal.dotm ‹ Simply click yes to save the changes so the template
will be updated. The Normal.dotm template stores far more than just what
default font & margins to use for new documents, including ma ny of the
Preference settings, customized keystrokes, toolbar & menu customizations,
etc. Unless you're willing to lose or recreate all of that & more you don't
want to *replace* Normal.dotm unless absolutely necessary... In fact, it's a
good practice to keep a current backup of it.

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