How can I change the default font setting forthe markup/ comments balloons?

[jsnewman]

I'm trying to provide comments to students right in their word documents. Unfortunately, I'm going blind! I cannot see a way to set ALL comments in the balloons to a particular font type and more importantly, size. I don't have time to reformat each comments balloon manually before entering my comments.

I've searched the web, the help function, and the manual and can find nothing about this feature. All I can find is how to display or hide the balloons, which is not the issue.

HELP!
Thanks

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Using the Format | Style dialog, you need to Modify the Balloon Text
style to change the size, and I also change the font of the Comment Text
style, but that's my preference. You have to repeat this for each
document, but not for each comment balloon.

In Word 2004 or earlier, you can record the style changes as a macro to
easily repeat it on each document. In Word 2008, you'd need an
AppleScript--maybe someone can help you with that. I haven't rewritten
mine yet, and I'm not sure if Automator supports redefining a style.

 

[jsnewman]

Thank you so much! My eyes are forever grateful!
Jackie

 

[jsnewman]

Using the Format | Style dialog, you need to Modify the Balloon Text

style to change the size,

I tried this tonight for the first time and it consistently changes the entire document's base font, which isn't the goal. So I'm back to square one, confused, and frustrated. Help please!

Jackei

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

I tried this tonight for the first time and it consistently changes the entire document's base font, which isn't the goal. So I'm back to square one, confused, and frustrated. Help please!

Okay. Let's try the instructions again, because it certainly works for
me. No need to select anything first.

Click Format | Style. In the column in the left, find and select the
Balloon Text style. Now click Modify. Change the size and/or font.
Click OK to exit the Modify dialog.

Now, click Close. Do NOT Click Apply. This will change the paragraph the
cursor is in--I think that's the cause of the problem you see.

 

[jsnewman]

It's still behaving strangely. I tried doing exactly that, and the text is bigger in this document. But it isn't the font I picked. I can live with it, but it seems I'm not really in control of what the software is doing. At least this time, the font is big enough to see. That is a relief.

Yes, the apply button was causing problems, too.

Seems to me this could be programed to be a bit more intuitive.

thanks!

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Oh, this is not intuitive at all. But I'm no programmer--use Help |
Send Feedback in Word to complain to MS. This is how it works:

The style Balloon Text controls the font of the prefix (Comment and
the size of the entire thing.

The style Comment Text controls the font of the text you type after
Comment:, but has no impact on the size no matter what you do.

So to get exactly what you want, you need to adjust both those styles.

Are you finding that you need to repeat this in every student document?
I just wrote (I think) an AppleScript to make the changes in one click,
to speed that up.