Outline View's limited column width

[dbuchanan]

This appears like a big lack of forethought. Word's Outline View is touted as
ideal view for laying out thoughts for a document, but the usable column
width is only about 6.5 inches. My usable screen width four times that at
about 24" wide. What a waste. Usint higher outline levels strings out the
'body text' paragraphs vertically in a very impractical way. It makes the the
column is so narrow as to be almost useless ~ only three or four words wide.
I have found no way of changing the column width! Neither page width or page
orientation helps this. Any suggestions?

 

[Stefan Blom]

If you are using Word 2007, try the following: Click the Office button and
then click Word Options. In the Advanced category, select "Show text wrapped
within the document window" (found under "Show document content") and click
OK.

The corresponding option for Word 2003 ("Wrap to window") can be found on
the View tab of Tools | Options.

 

[dbuchanan]

Thank you Stefan.
It seems odd that this setting is hidden in such an obscure location from
where it is really needed. (I was ready to give up on outline view because of
its uselessness.)

 

[Stefan Blom]

You are welcome.

In Word 2007, at least, many options are in obscure locations...

To be more specific, the categories in the Word Options dialog box aren't
very descriptive; in particular, this applies to "Popular" (with whom?) and
"Advanced" (for whom?).