Notebook view

[gwjohnson]

In Word v2008 why are the formatting palette and toolbars so limited in Notebook view?

For example, there is no formatting painter available nor is there the ability to show/hide invisible characters in this view; I need to return to one of the other views, then use these features, then return to Notebook view.

The toolbars available in this view are very limited and I'm not given the possibility of creating a custom toolbar.

What gives?

 

[CyberTaz]

My guess - in answer to each point - is that Notebook View isn't intended to
be used for that type of activity... it's intended for taking notes. Keep in
mind also that it isn't just a viewing mode, but a completely different
document structure which doesn't support most of those features.

Since this is just the introduction of Notebook View, however, I wouldn't be
surprised if more features are added over time... assuming it "catches on"
and more features are requested by users - But see my reply to your other
post.

 

[John McGhie]

How much detail do you want?

The "Notebook View" is actually mis-named. It's not a "view" so much as a
different file type.

The commands available in that view are limited by design, to avoid breaking
the file.

Basically they are doing things in that file that make it "not a Word file",
and unless they constrain the range of options, Word goes belly-up.

Think of it as a "noise abatement" measure. It reduces the screams from the
user when Word crashes and loses all their data...

Cheers

In Word v2008 why are the formatting palette and toolbars so limited in
Notebook view?

For example, there is no formatting painter available nor is there the ability
to show/hide invisible characters in this view; I need to return to one of the
other views, then use these features, then return to Notebook view.

The toolbars available in this view are very limited and I'm not given the
possibility of creating a custom toolbar.

What gives?

--
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, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Australia
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[gwjohnson]

I appreciate what you are saying in terms of limiting the options in this view, though I can flip back and forth from Notebook view to Print Layout view easily.

There are times even when I am taking notes that I would like to see the non-printing characters, and there are also times I would appreciate being able to copy/past formatting.

 

[Michel Bintener]

I appreciate what you are saying in terms of limiting the options in this
view, though I can flip back and forth from Notebook view to Print Layout view
easily.

There are times even when I am taking notes that I would like to see the
non-printing characters, and there are also times I would appreciate being
able to copy/past formatting.

To view the non-printing characters, simply hit Cmd+8. That keyboard
shortcut works in any view.

--
Michel Bintener
Microsoft MVP
Office:mac (Entourage & Word)

*** Please always reply to the newsgroup. ***

 

[CyberTaz]

Good point - I didn't even give that a thought 8-} You can even use the
Preferences to turn the non-printing characters on regardless of view.

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

 

[John McGhie]

I agree with you

Don't tell me, tell Microsoft Use the "Send Feedback" command on the
Help menu to make sure your message gets into the database where it won't
get lost.

Cheers

I appreciate what you are saying in terms of limiting the options in this
view, though I can flip back and forth from Notebook view to Print Layout view
easily.

There are times even when I am taking notes that I would like to see the
non-printing characters, and there are also times I would appreciate being
able to copy/past formatting.

--
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, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory, Australia
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[KarlWa]

Totally agree with this post. I don't see Notebook View ever "catching on" if its so limited.

One of the things that bugs me is the Insert menu. I'm an engineering student, and when taking notes, often need to insert an equation in to my notes. I can do this if I switch the Print View, insert it, and move back to Notebook View. It saves and loads fine, so I doubt it's a file issue. The insert menu for the NBV is insanely limited - it goes from 10-15 options down to 4.

Oh, and the table formatting options go - those are supported in NBV. And you can't add any other toolbars other than the audio notes one, even for things as simple as the formatting toolbar.

This is a severe disappointment after the overwhelming success that was Office 2007.