turn off options buttons?

[G.Miller]

im new to word 2008, upgraded from word x.
one of the new features (not sure if its new in 2008 or was new in
2004) is these buttons that pop up in the document (they kind of look
like a toolbar button) when you do certain things.
example, if i want to create a list, i type "1. blah blah" and hit
return. a button appears next to it with a blue line and a lightning
bolt. when i mouse over it, it says 'autocorrect options'. if i
click on it, i get three choices:
undo automatic numbering
stop automatically creating numbered lists
control autoformat options...
i explored the autoformat options and cant find a way to make these
buttons go away. can they be turned off?

they also appear in excel when you cut and paste things.

 

[CyberTaz]

Indeed Word> Preferences> AutoCorrect, clear the checkbox for Show
AutoCorrect Smart Button. There's also a Paste Options button which you can
dispose of in the Edit preferences.

Can't recall if X had them or not, but they were definitely in 2004.

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

 

[G.Miller]

the 'show autocorrect smart button' is already unchecked and the
button still comes up.
i think that preference only turns off that annoying blue line that
appears under words when you type them or when you mouse over them.
it is definitely still showing up when i make a list.

maybe its just my copy of word? can anyone duplicate it?
im running osx 10.5.3 and word 12.1.0.

 

[CyberTaz]

Pardon my senility:-} - I thought that was among the fixes that had already
been made, but apparently that's not the case. What happened is that the
checkbox was totally missing in 2004. It got added in 2008 but wasn't fully
implemented to exclude the List features.

Sorry - looks like we're stuck with it for a while longer.

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

 

[G.Miller]

thanks. by the time it gets fixed im sure i will have learned to
ignore it!

 

[CyberTaz]

Yeah, it's easy to ignore since it goes away after the first item in the
list. Quite honestly, though, the sages around here (and most everywhere
else) would suggest that you turn OFF the AutoFormat* features - including
Bullets & Numbered Lists - and apply Styles for the purpose. It's far more
effective & stable to do so. For more on the subject one of the most
authoritative sources is:

http://word.mvps.org/mac/Using-Windows-Templates.html

Follow the instructions to the letter & you'll have few if any problems.

*Not AutoText or AutoCorrect

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