Microsoft Word 2003 is the word processing application in the Microsoft Office Suite. Create professional-looking, formatted text documents with this powerful Word processing software.
Let's briefly review the basic parts of the Word 2003 window before we move on to word processing.
Shown below is the Microsoft Word default window. When Word is launched, a new blank document, or default window, opens in Print Layout view. Although window elements are fully explained in our Windows course, here is a brief explanation of the Word window.
This displays the document name, followed by a program name.
This contains a list of options to manage and customize documents.
This contains shortcut buttons for the most popular commands.
This contains buttons that are used for formatting.
This is used to set margins, indents, and tabs.
This is the location where the next character appears.
This indicates the end of the document.
This provides quick access to Help topics.
These are used to view parts of the document.
This displays the position of the insertion point and working mode buttons.
This provides easy access to commonly used menus, buttons, and tools.
This changes the layout view of the document to Normal view, Web Layout view, Reading Layout view, Print Layout view, Outline view, and Full Screen view.
This links to the Microsoft Office Help feature.
In an effort to provide various ways in which to view your work in progress and remain organized, Word 2003 offers six different views for your document. The six views are Normal view, Web Layout view, Reading Layout view, Print Layout view, Outline view, and Full Screen view.
Normal view is best used for typing, editing, formatting, and proofreading. It provides a maximum amount of space without rulers or page numbers cluttering your view.
Web Layout view shows you what your text will look like on a webpage.
Reading Layout view is best for documents you do not need to edit. The goal of this view is to increase legibility so users can read documents easily.
Print Layout view shows you what your document will look like when it is printed. Under Print Layout view, you can see all elements of the page. Print Preview shows you this as well.
Outline view is used to create and edit outlines. Outline view only shows the headings in a document. This view is particularly handy when making notes.
Full Screen view displays ONLY the document you are working on. All other pieces of the Word window are removed except for one button, which allows you to Close View Screen.
Each Office 2003 program features a menu bar. The menu bar is made up of many different menus. Each menu contains commands that enable you to work within the program.
If you have used a previous version of Microsoft Word, you may notice that the menu bar in Word 2003 operates a little differently than before.
Word 2003 uses drop-down menus that initially display commands users most often need.
To open a menu:
When opened, the task pane will appear on the right side of the Word window. The task pane provides easy access to commonly used menus, buttons, and tools. By default, the task pane will appear when Word 2003 is first launched.
If you do not see your task pane, you can view it by either selecting certain commands or by manually opening it.
To open the task pane:
Along the top bar of the task pane, you should see small backward and forward buttons on the left, as well as a down arrow on the right. To view different task panes, click the down arrow. Once you have opened different task panes, you can navigate through them by clicking on the left and right arrow button on the left. To close your task pane, click the X symbol on the far right of the bar.