Word's arrow keys

[Marina]

I am forced by a customer to use Word for a layout job instead of a
professional layout program like Quark or InDesign. Right now I am going
nuts over the problem of the precise positioning of objects. Moving an
object either with the mouse or the arrow keys isn't precise enough.
There seems to be no way to diminish the default step size or force a
precise numeric positioning. Can anybody help?

Marina

 

[Daniel Cohen]

I am forced by a customer to use Word for a layout job instead of a
professional layout program like Quark or InDesign. Right now I am going
nuts over the problem of the precise positioning of objects. Moving an
object either with the mouse or the arrow keys isn't precise enough.
There seems to be no way to diminish the default step size or force a
precise numeric positioning. Can anybody help?

I've only positioned images. There's certainly an option somewhere among
the toolbar or related items for positioning where one enters the
position numerically.

 

[Beth Rosengard]

Hi Marina,

On the Drawing Toolbar, click the Draw icon (first one), click on Grid and
uncheck the option to "Snap objects to grid." If I understand you
correctly, that's what you're looking for.

--
Beth Rosengard
Mac MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://www.mvps.org/word/FAQs/WordMac/index.htm>
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/toc.html>

 

[Klaus Linke]

I am forced by a customer to use Word for a layout job
instead of a professional layout program like Quark or InDesign.
Right now I am going nuts over the problem of the precise
positioning of objects. Moving an object either with the mouse
or the arrow keys isn't precise enough.
There seems to be no way to diminish the default step size or
force a precise numeric positioning. Can anybody help?

Marina

Hi Marina,

On the PC, you can nudge objects one pixel with Command+Arrow-Keys.
You could try if it works the same on the Mac.

Regards,
Klaus

 

[Tim Murray]

Make sure you discuss with your customer the issues of printing, such as who
prints, how it's printed (PDF?), etc., when you get down to the end of the
job. Word can move things around, from maybe a point or two to a pica or two,
even between printings to the same printer.

 

[Gene van Troyer]

Make sure you discuss with your customer the issues of printing, such as who
prints, how it's printed (PDF?), etc., when you get down to the end of the
job. Word can move things around, from maybe a point or two to a pica or two,
even between printings to the same printer.

I would also add that your customer needs to know that if he or she plans to
take the finished product to a print shop that is geared for using
pre-flighted PDFs for printing output, the results of a project produced
using Word will probably be less than desirable and will most likely appear
rather down-market.

I hope you are being paid by the hour, if you were forced to use Word.

Gene van Troyer