Toolbox as Dictionary

[Marc Harmon]

I expect this has been discussed but I cannot find it archivally.

I am Customizing the standard toolbar and have some simple questions.
First and foremost, I would like it that when I click the red box -
'Toolbox', the result would display the highlighted word from the document
in progress - as a dictionary look up - as occurs if I click the dictionary
Icon when set to the toolbar.

So I set the dictionary icon to the toolbar, and it does as I have said, but
it does not disappear when clicked again, as does the 'Toolbox' or did the
dictionary icon in word X. Frankly, I miss the dictionary of Word X. Maybe
I just got used to it, but I enjoyed the way the dictionary worked in Word
X.

On the other hand, I do enjoy having synonyms and enjoy the MSN or Encarta
look-up a click away as in the 'toolbox' and other aspects of the Toolbox if
only it produced a look-up when clicked as the dictionary does. How to make
that happen?

Any ideas to solve this dilemma. Either to get the toolbox to look-up the
cursor selected word, or have the dictionary button in the toolbar close the
Toolbox when clicked a second time.

Also how do I add or move an existing divider?

Can I color an existing icon

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi Marc,

I don't have all the answers for you, but I want to say this: It is a
mistake to customize the standard toolbar. Here's why: The standard
toolbar is attached to the Normal template. When the Normal template gets
corrupt (as it tends to do sooner or later), you will have to trash it and
let a new default Normal replace the old corrupt one. The standard toolbars
are one of the few items that cannot be copied from an old Normal to a new
Normal using the Organizer.

For these reasons, we always advise that you create your own custom toolbar.
That way, if you have to trash Normal, your custom toolbar won't be thrown
out with the trash. It will have an independent existence. In the
Customize> Toolbars dialog, just click on New, give it a name, and go from
there.

As for your questions: I've never played around much with the Toolbox and
you probably know more about what can be done with it than I do at this
point. However, here's how you place dividers: With Customize> Toolbars
open, you right-click (Command-click) on the button to the right of which
you want the divider bar. Choose Properties and check "Begin Group." To
delete a divider, you uncheck "Begin Group". You can't actually move them.

I don't believe you can color an existing icon; but you can choose different
built-in icons or make your own and use those. You'll find the built-in
choices by, again, right-clicking on an icon, choosing Properties, and then
clicking on the down arrow to the left of "Name:".

Hope this helps.

--
***Please always reply to the newsgroup!***

Beth Rosengard
MacOffice MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/index.htm>
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