Word 2008 Drawing toolbar

[BrianKR]

It seems to me that the drawing facilities are much less powerful than
with the last version of MS Word for Mac. When drawing a line all I
can get is a thick blue line. In fact everything is blue. What am I
missing please. Thanks, BrianKR

 

[CyberTaz]

There's no question that the new capabilities are 'different' -- whether you
choose to categorize them as 'better' or 'worse' is a matter of personal
interpretation The new tools are based on a completely redesigned
graphics engine & the current version of Mac Office offers a somewhat
limited implementation of the first generation of that new engine. The next
release will most likely provide significantly enhanced capabilities.

In the meanwhile, what's mucking up the works is that MS Marketing has
convinced Development that users want thick blue lines with shadows as well
as shapes filled with that same color & effect. Ergo, that's what is set as
the default formatting for the Shapes & defined by what is called an Office
Theme. One option is to select a different Document Theme, and you can also
create Custom Themes. See Word Help on the topic: Create a custom theme

However, there's nothing about the formatting that can't be changed directly
once the shape has been created. Use the tools of the Formatting Palette in
the Toolbox or double-click the shape to produce the Format AutoShape dialog
in order to produce the effect you prefer.

After you format a shape in any given document you can Control/Right-Click
it & select Set AutoShape Defaults. Any new shapes you create in the
document from then on will be formatted in the manner of the one you use as
the 'model'. Additionally, you can open the Normal.dotm template, create &
format any shape you choose in the manner you prefer & set it as the default
in that same way. Save, delete the shape, then close & save the template.
[The only thing you can't permanently remove is the damned shadow in
Normal.dotm -- it always comes back.] In any new documents you then create,
your specs will be used as the defaults.

Once you explore the capabilities you may find them more to your liking...
Have a look at the topics within the Graphics heading on the Mactopia page:

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/help.mspx?product=Word 2008&app=4

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

 

[Shadow and line thickness issues]

You can't get rid of the shadow, but you can make it unnoticeable by setting
distance=0, blur=0, and transparency=100%. You will not see the shadow and
it will permanently save in normal.dotm. Also if you choose .74 or .76
instead of .75 for your line thickness, it will permanently save in
normal.dotm too.

There's no question that the new capabilities are 'different' -- whether you
choose to categorize them as 'better' or 'worse' is a matter of personal
interpretation The new tools are based on a completely redesigned
graphics engine & the current version of Mac Office offers a somewhat
limited implementation of the first generation of that new engine. The next
release will most likely provide significantly enhanced capabilities.

In the meanwhile, what's mucking up the works is that MS Marketing has
convinced Development that users want thick blue lines with shadows as well
as shapes filled with that same color & effect. Ergo, that's what is set as
the default formatting for the Shapes & defined by what is called an Office
Theme. One option is to select a different Document Theme, and you can also
create Custom Themes. See Word Help on the topic: Create a custom theme

However, there's nothing about the formatting that can't be changed directly
once the shape has been created. Use the tools of the Formatting Palette in
the Toolbox or double-click the shape to produce the Format AutoShape dialog
in order to produce the effect you prefer.

After you format a shape in any given document you can Control/Right-Click
it & select Set AutoShape Defaults. Any new shapes you create in the
document from then on will be formatted in the manner of the one you use as
the 'model'. Additionally, you can open the Normal.dotm template, create &
format any shape you choose in the manner you prefer & set it as the default
in that same way. Save, delete the shape, then close & save the template.
[The only thing you can't permanently remove is the damned shadow in
Normal.dotm -- it always comes back.] In any new documents you then create,
your specs will be used as the defaults.

Once you explore the capabilities you may find them more to your liking...
Have a look at the topics within the Graphics heading on the Mactopia page:

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/help.mspx?product=Word 2008&app=4

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

It seems to me that the drawing facilities are much less powerful than
with the last version of MS Word for Mac. When drawing a line all I
can get is a thick blue line. In fact everything is blue. What am I
missing please. Thanks, BrianKR

.

 

[CyberTaz]

Thanks for the insights. Now that I think about it, your suggestions
certainly make sense, but I confess I'd never pursued it that far because I
seldom use those tools in the first place I'm afraid I subscribe to the
school of thought that suggests that you shouldn't have to completely
redesign/redefine the tools in order to get basic functionality.

I'm sure this additional info will be useful to many who look here for
answers... Thanks for sharing!

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



On 1/29/10 2:30 PM, in article
(e-mail address removed), "Shadow and line
thickness issues" <Shadow and line thickness

You can't get rid of the shadow, but you can make it unnoticeable by setting
distance=0, blur=0, and transparency=100%. You will not see the shadow and
it will permanently save in normal.dotm. Also if you choose .74 or .76
instead of .75 for your line thickness, it will permanently save in
normal.dotm too.

There's no question that the new capabilities are 'different' -- whether you
choose to categorize them as 'better' or 'worse' is a matter of personal
interpretation The new tools are based on a completely redesigned
graphics engine & the current version of Mac Office offers a somewhat
limited implementation of the first generation of that new engine. The next
release will most likely provide significantly enhanced capabilities.

In the meanwhile, what's mucking up the works is that MS Marketing has
convinced Development that users want thick blue lines with shadows as well
as shapes filled with that same color & effect. Ergo, that's what is set as
the default formatting for the Shapes & defined by what is called an Office
Theme. One option is to select a different Document Theme, and you can also
create Custom Themes. See Word Help on the topic: Create a custom theme

However, there's nothing about the formatting that can't be changed directly
once the shape has been created. Use the tools of the Formatting Palette in
the Toolbox or double-click the shape to produce the Format AutoShape dialog
in order to produce the effect you prefer.

After you format a shape in any given document you can Control/Right-Click
it & select Set AutoShape Defaults. Any new shapes you create in the
document from then on will be formatted in the manner of the one you use as
the 'model'. Additionally, you can open the Normal.dotm template, create &
format any shape you choose in the manner you prefer & set it as the default
in that same way. Save, delete the shape, then close & save the template.
[The only thing you can't permanently remove is the damned shadow in
Normal.dotm -- it always comes back.] In any new documents you then create,
your specs will be used as the defaults.

Once you explore the capabilities you may find them more to your liking...
Have a look at the topics within the Graphics heading on the Mactopia page:

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/help.mspx?product=Word 2008&app=4

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

It seems to me that the drawing facilities are much less powerful than
with the last version of MS Word for Mac. When drawing a line all I
can get is a thick blue line. In fact everything is blue. What am I
missing please. Thanks, BrianKR

.