Margin Text

[Popeye]

Hi everyone

I have Word 2003 and have followed Suzanne Barnhill's instructions to create
a frame in the margin into which a text note can be inserted
(http://sbarnhill.mvps.org/WordFAQs/MarginalText.htm). I've managed to get
it to work and applied it to the normal template so it will be available to
all new documents that I create.

I've noted that when I open Word or ceate a new document, the cursor is
placed into the frame in the left margin. How can I change the normal
template so that the cursor is placed at my usual starting position? The top
and left margins are set at 2.54cm and I'm used to having the cursor start at
the top left of this page, rather than in the frame which is in the left
margin. I've tried saving the normal template having left "normal" as the
current style and I've left the cursor at a position of 2.54cm down and
2.54cm in, but it doesn't remember this when I start a new document.

This is a very useful tip and, if I manage to get this working as I want,
I'll create another style to place a frame in the right margin.

Thank you for your time.

 

[Popeye]

I've been playing around by "Update to match selection" and I've managed to
get it to work correctly. I'd better set about creating the right margin
frame now!

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Instead of actually inserting a frame in Normal.dot (which could have
disastrous consequences for labels and envelopes), create a framed style and
save that in Normal.dot where it will be available for use in any document
just by applying the style.

 

[Popeye]

Hi Suzanne

Thank you for the comment about labels and envelopes - I hadn't thought
about that! When I open a new document now, the cursor is at the top left,
2.54cm down and 2.54cm in. When I look at the styles that are available
(Format>Styles and Formatting), the pane shows Body Text, Heading 1, Heading
2, Heading 3, Margin Text (left), Margin Text (right) and Normal. I set the
appropriate frames in the extra two styles (one left and right), in
accordance with your site. I think that this is correct in that I've added
the styles to normal.dot but haven't changed the setting of normal.dot, such
as changing the defualt font or justification. Am I correct or should I
delete the two styles that I have created?

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

No, this is just what you want. When you want a marginal text box, you apply
one of your Margin Text styles.

 

[Popeye]

Thank you for the reassurance!