Copying vertical columns of text in Word
If you’ve ever needed to copy columns of text from a tabbed list and thought you had to retype them, think again. Try this trick instead.
Printing Envelopes and Labels, Part 2: Labels
In a very belated follow-up to my post on how to create and format envelopes in Microsoft Word, here’s a post on how to create and format labels. Both originate from the Mailings tab in versions 2007 and 2010 of Word or from the Tools menu of versions 2002 and 2003 – not exactly the easiest places to find! I’ve included instructions for both the ribbon and non-ribbon versions of Word for those who haven’t upgraded to the latest release. Click the link below to see the full illustrated tutorial.
How to keep two words together on a single line
Need to make sure two words appear together on the same line, regardless of line wrap? Here’s how to do that by inserting nonbreaking spaces and hyphens.
How to create your own Pleading Paper template, Part 1
I’ve gotten a fair number of questions from readers about how to format pleadings with line numbers down the left, commonly known as Pleading Paper. Typically, they sound something like this:
“My text never quite lines up exactly with the numbers on the pleading paper. What’s the trick??”
“PLEASE work on the pleadings template! I’m sure I and many others would pay bonuses for your guidance.”
“Pleading paper instructions would be fantastic! I mostly work in California state and federal courts, and our office just reuses old documents to keep the pleading paper formatting. Unfortunately this brings along a host of other formatting issues, and while I’d love to be able to start from scratch I don’t know how. Any help you could give would be terrific, thank you!!”
“I am not sure of the technical name for it, but years ago law firms had stationery with double lines on left side of a page and one line on the right. I know Word can duplicate it, but I don’t how to add them or what it is called. I will try the [pleading paper] template, but is there a way to remove the page numbering on the side?”
“I wish WORD was like WordPerfect in that we could just add the pleading format into the document after the document is completed. Anyway, if you could help me figure this out it would be great. I recently added [a plug-in] to Word/Office which provides a host of automated functions, like cite checking, quote check, and table of authorities, which would make finalizing a brief a breeze. However, if I can’t get out of the WordPerfect format for my brief writing, I don’t see where all these extra functions will benefit me.”
Okay, okay, I get it, I get it! Clearly, my standard reply (which I used so often that I actually created an entry in Quick Parts in Outlook for it) isn’t getting the job done. So, while I would love to create a custom template (like I did for that last person above) for each and every one of you, there just aren’t enough hours in the day!
So, in lieu of becoming a template factory, I’m going to show you how to make some common adjustments to those musty old Microsoft templates (either the 25-line one or the 28-line one) all by yourself. And if you don’t see your particular question addressed in this series, by all means leave it in the comments at the bottom, and I’ll add the answer.
How to set tabs (without tearing your hair out)
Having trouble setting tabs in Microsoft Word? Here are two quick methods, plus a tip on how to set tabs for one section of your document without messing up the rest of your text.
Save those trees! Printing compressed copies of large documents
If you’re not anywhere close to having a paperless office, but you still want to save room in those bulging files of yours, here’s an option you might not have considered before: condensed printing. Think “travel transcript,” like those 4-up duplex printed deposition mini-transcripts you get. If some of your hard copies could just as easily be printed in “mini” form for your file, then click Read More to learn this trick in Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, your default Windows photo printer, and virtually any other application you have.
Reader Question: Incrementing numbers in headers
A reader wrote me recently with an interesting dilemma: She needed to be able to automatically increment numbers in a Microsoft Word footer. But she’d found that the otherwise trusty AutoNum field doesn’t work in headers or footers. So how was she going to put the correct “Exhibit [X]” at the bottom of her documents? Here’s the solution I came up with for her. Click the “Read More” link to see the demonstration video.
How to print an envelope in Microsoft Word
A WordPerfect Lover asked me to go “back to the basics” with some tutorials on essential Word functions, so I’m starting that effort with a tutorial on how to print envelopes in Microsoft Word. Click the “read more” link for a complete illustrated tutorial.
Taming naughty footnotes, pt. 2 – separators
Here’s how to change the footnote separator, the footnote continuation separator, and the footnote continuation notice in Microsoft Word.
Quick-and-dirty text sorting in Microsoft Word
If you need to sort text in Word, whether it’s within a table or just typed straight, here’s how.
Pick up where you left off in Microsoft Word with “Go Back”
Ever want to go straight back to your last editing position in Microsoft Word? Use the “Go Back” feature. Here’s how.
Stop repeating yourself – build a Microsoft Word template
If you have a Microsoft Word document type you produce frequently, why don’t you save a stripped-down version of it as a template? It will save you time in creating future document. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial.
Reviewing, accepting and rejecting others’ changes in Track Changes
Once you’ve produced a redlined document with Word’s Track Changes feature, you can finalize the document with the Accept and Reject buttons on the toolbar. Here’s how.
Inserting comments with Track Changes
What if you (or your attorney) don’t want to actually change a particular section of a document, but just want to ask a question, point out a problem, just plain make a comment? Here’s a tutorial on how to insert a comment using Word’s Track Changes feature.
Showing, hiding and printing tracked changes
Once you know how to turn on Word’s Track Changes feature, you may want to be able to see the document in its original state and with all the changes without having to accept or reject changes. Here’s an easy way to do that (with some caveats)
Automatically marking document edits with Track Changes
Ever want to be able to automatically create a redline showing your document changes? You can, with Word’s Track Changes feature. Here are the basics.
Inserting a table of contents using styles
Building a Table of Contents in Microsoft Word is ridiculously easy if you use Styles to format your document headings. Here’s the quick-and-dirty tutorial on inserting an easy TOC in your document.
Using sections to control page numbers, headers and footers
This is part two of a tutorial on how to control page numbers and page number formats using sections in Microsoft Word 2002-2003. Useful for changing page number styles in appellate briefs or for having distinct headers and footers in different parts of a document.
Copying formats using Format Painter
Here’s how to use the Format Painter button to copy formats from one block of text to another in Microsoft Word.
Line justification (a.k.a. paragraph alignment)
Here’s how you do left-justify, right-justify, center, and full-justify in Microsoft Word (either with your mouse or your keyboard).
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