Using styles to format document elements

[marc_isaacs]

As I go through a day's text editing, the two tasks that beg
expediting or automation are the formatting of a drop cap and the same
for columns. For the moment, each of these task requires the same
parameters in every instance. I have attempted highlighting manually
formatted work and placing it into a style - seemed logical to me -
however Word doesn't play nicely and is less than helpful in achieving
the desired result. I should guess these two tasks are well suited to
the use of styles.

Every time I Google any arrangement of keywords for creating a style
for columns, I get headers discussing newspaper style columns, even
when I include -newspaper. Are neither of these tasks stylish? :>)

Thank you.

 

[Graham Mayor]

You cannot store a dropped cap in a style - you would need a macro to apply
your preferred parameters e.g.

With Selection.Paragraphs(1).DropCap
.Position = wdDropNormal
.FontName = "Times New Roman"
.LinesToDrop = 3
.DistanceFromText = CentimetersToPoints(0)
End With

http://www.gmayor.com/installing_macro.htm

I am not sure what it is you want to do with columns so please elaborate.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[Peter T. Daniels]

"Newspaper columns" is Word's term for text arranged in columns.

If what you want is columns with related data on the left and right,
then what you need is a table without borders.

 

[marc_isaacs]

You cannot store a dropped cap in a style - you would need a macro to apply
your preferred parameters e.g.

With Selection.Paragraphs(1).DropCap
.Position = wdDropNormal
.FontName = "Times New Roman"
.LinesToDrop = 3
.DistanceFromText = CentimetersToPoints(0)
End With

http://www.gmayor.com/installing_macro.htm

I am not sure what it is you want to do with columns so please elaborate.

Finally, I am returned from holiday and find another gift awaiting me.
An embarrassment of riches begins to amass for my use (and pleasure)
thanks to your generosity. As before, I am happily in your debt, Mr.
Mayor. Thank you. This forum makes me feel as if it is my birthday
every day.

In the spirit of beginning to understand the creation of macros about
which, at the moment, I know nothing, may I ask how to modify the
macro to add a variable for the DistanceFromText? (Currently most of
the drop caps benefit from an adjustment of .01 as a default however
that changes with the font used for the drop cap which is, itself, a
sometime variable) If there is a tutorial or a URL that will give me
[this] information, I don't mind digging for myself.

*^*^*^*^*^

Regarding the inquiry re: columns. A current ongoing project produces
documents, each of which contains a listing of items that is formatted
in two-columns using cursive text in the same point size as the body
text. An easy enough task to perform manually however multiplied by
numerous repetitions per day and the ability to highlight the text and
press a key or choose from a styles listing to do the necessary
formatting would be a treat. I have created styles for header text,
sub-header text, document credits, et c. I held the hope one might do
the same for columns.

Good to be back, I hope this message finds you well.

MI

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

You should have a Columns button on the Standard toolbar. If not, it is
easily added by selecting it from the Add or Remove Buttons list you get
when you click the down arrow at the end of the toolbar. Apply your desired
paragraph style (for the cursive font), then select the paragraphs you want
in two columns, click the Columns button, and drag to select two columns.
Word takes care of inserting the necessary Continuous section breaks.

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

You cannot store a dropped cap in a style - you would need a macro to
apply
your preferred parameters e.g.

With Selection.Paragraphs(1).DropCap
.Position = wdDropNormal
.FontName = "Times New Roman"
.LinesToDrop = 3
.DistanceFromText = CentimetersToPoints(0)
End With

http://www.gmayor.com/installing_macro.htm

I am not sure what it is you want to do with columns so please elaborate.

Finally, I am returned from holiday and find another gift awaiting me.
An embarrassment of riches begins to amass for my use (and pleasure)
thanks to your generosity. As before, I am happily in your debt, Mr.
Mayor. Thank you. This forum makes me feel as if it is my birthday
every day.

In the spirit of beginning to understand the creation of macros about
which, at the moment, I know nothing, may I ask how to modify the
macro to add a variable for the DistanceFromText? (Currently most of
the drop caps benefit from an adjustment of .01 as a default however
that changes with the font used for the drop cap which is, itself, a
sometime variable) If there is a tutorial or a URL that will give me
[this] information, I don't mind digging for myself.

*^*^*^*^*^

Regarding the inquiry re: columns. A current ongoing project produces
documents, each of which contains a listing of items that is formatted
in two-columns using cursive text in the same point size as the body
text. An easy enough task to perform manually however multiplied by
numerous repetitions per day and the ability to highlight the text and
press a key or choose from a styles listing to do the necessary
formatting would be a treat. I have created styles for header text,
sub-header text, document credits, et c. I held the hope one might do
the same for columns.

Good to be back, I hope this message finds you well.

MI

 

[marc_issacs]

You should have a Columns button on the Standard toolbar. If not, it is
easily added by selecting it from the Add or Remove Buttons list you get
when you click the down arrow at the end of the toolbar. Apply your desired
paragraph style (for the cursive font), then select the paragraphs you want
in two columns, click the Columns button, and drag to select two columns.
Word takes care of inserting the necessary Continuous section breaks.

Thank you.

Also, I answered my own question regarding the macro Mr. Mayor
supplied.

 

[Graham Mayor]

As you have probably gathered the distance from text measurement is applied
converted from centimeters in the line

.DistanceFromText = CentimetersToPoints(0)

here 0. (1 cm = 28.35 points).

You can work in a variety of measurement units based on points. The
following each give the same result

Points
.DistanceFromText = 72
Picas (12 points to the pica)
.DistanceFromText = PicasToPoints(6)
Centimeters
.DistanceFromText = CentimetersToPoints(2.54)
Inches
.DistanceFromText = InchesToPoints(1)

The following should show how it works in practice (and provide a simple
calculator)

Sub ShowMeasurements()
Dim sMeasurement As Single
sMeasurement = InputBox("Enter distance in Inches")
MsgBox "InchesToPoints(" & sMeasurement & ") = " _
& InchesToPoints(sMeasurement) & vbCr & _
"CentimetersToPoints(" & sMeasurement * 2.54 & ") = " _
& CentimetersToPoints(sMeasurement * 2.54) & vbCr & _
"PicasToPoints(" & sMeasurement * 6 & ") = " _
& PicasToPoints(sMeasurement * 6) & vbCr & _
"Points = " & sMeasurement * 72 & vbCr & vbCr & _
"You can also calculate the other way round" & vbCr & vbCr & _
"PointsToInches(" & sMeasurement * 72 & ") = " _
& PointsToInches(sMeasurement * 72) & vbCr & _
"PointsToCentimeters(" & sMeasurement * 72 & ") = " _
& PointsToCentimeters(sMeasurement * 72) & vbCr & _
"PointsToPicas(" & sMeasurement * 72 & ") = " _
& PointsToPicas(sMeasurement * 72) & vbCr & _
"Points = " & sMeasurement * 72
End Sub

If you are working in Word 2007, the vba help is pretty good.
--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

You cannot store a dropped cap in a style - you would need a macro to
apply
your preferred parameters e.g.

With Selection.Paragraphs(1).DropCap
.Position = wdDropNormal
.FontName = "Times New Roman"
.LinesToDrop = 3
.DistanceFromText = CentimetersToPoints(0)
End With

http://www.gmayor.com/installing_macro.htm

I am not sure what it is you want to do with columns so please elaborate.

Finally, I am returned from holiday and find another gift awaiting me.
An embarrassment of riches begins to amass for my use (and pleasure)
thanks to your generosity. As before, I am happily in your debt, Mr.
Mayor. Thank you. This forum makes me feel as if it is my birthday
every day.

In the spirit of beginning to understand the creation of macros about
which, at the moment, I know nothing, may I ask how to modify the
macro to add a variable for the DistanceFromText? (Currently most of
the drop caps benefit from an adjustment of .01 as a default however
that changes with the font used for the drop cap which is, itself, a
sometime variable) If there is a tutorial or a URL that will give me
[this] information, I don't mind digging for myself.

*^*^*^*^*^

Regarding the inquiry re: columns. A current ongoing project produces
documents, each of which contains a listing of items that is formatted
in two-columns using cursive text in the same point size as the body
text. An easy enough task to perform manually however multiplied by
numerous repetitions per day and the ability to highlight the text and
press a key or choose from a styles listing to do the necessary
formatting would be a treat. I have created styles for header text,
sub-header text, document credits, et c. I held the hope one might do
the same for columns.

Good to be back, I hope this message finds you well.

MI