Text in margin

[Ed Walker]

I write sermons with a two-inch left-hand margin in which I write key
words to prompt me about the content of the paragraph. When delivering
the sermon, I look at the key word (in the margin) primarily and only
the text if I need to.

Is there a way in Word for me to type my sermon, with the two-inch
margin. And then come back later and type in the key word(s) in the
margin?

Ed

 

[Graham Mayor]

A two column unbordered table should do it. Use one row per paragraph
(tabbing out of the last cell will create a new row). You can set a wide
right column and a narrow left column for your keywords.

--
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.dsl.pipex.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
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[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Two possibilities that might work for you, the first of which is easier for
a novice:

1. Create a two-column borderless table. The left column can be quite narrow
(for example, if you have a 1" left margin and a 1" left column, you'd
achieve the same thing as with your 2" left margin). Each time you want to
begin a new paragraph, tab once to create a new table row, then again to get
to the second column. Later you can go back and add your keywords in the
first column.

2. Keeping the 2" left margin, create a framed style for the keywords.
Here's how:

a. Type a keyword.

b. Select the keyword and Insert Frame (there's a button for this on the
Forms toolbar, or you can restore the command to the Insert menu using Tools
| Customize, but you won't need either after you've defined the style).

c. Drag the frame to the approximately correct position in the left
margin.

d. Right-click on the frame border and choose Format Frame.

e. In the Frame dialog, set the frame width to an appropriate amount
(presumably something under an inch) and leave the height at Auto. Set the
horizontal position as 1" from Page (you'll have to type in the measurement)
and the vertical position as 0" from paragraph. Make sure the wrapping is
set to Around. OK out.

f. With the insertion point in the frame, go to Format | Borders and
Shading and choose None.

g. With the insertion point still in the frame, go to Format | Style and
choose New (if you're using Word 2002, click the New Style button in the
Styles and Formatting task pane).

h. Assign a name (such as Keyword) to your new style.

i. Whenever you want to insert a marginal note, place the insertion
point at the beginning of the paragraph you want it next to, press Enter,
move the insertion point to the new empty paragraph, and change the style to
Keyword (you may want to assign a keyboard shortcut or toolbar button to the
style). You'll get a marginal frame into which you can type your keywords.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.mvps.org/word
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