This tutorial teaches Microsoft Word basics. Although knowledge of how to navigate in a Windows environment is helpful, this tutorial was created for the computer novice. To begin, open Microsoft Word. The following screen will appear

The Title Bar

The Menu Bar

The Menu Bar is usually located below the TItle Bar.  This bar gives you the shortcuts to a variety of options.  Under File, you will find the save and print options.  You can also select recently saved documents to open.  Under the Edit choice are the cut, copy and paste options.  View allows you to change the look of the page--show border, show inches, etc.  Insert  allows you to insert a variety of things which will be discussed in later pages. Under Format, you can change the font, the text style, and layout.  Tools most often used are spelling and grammar check, other tools are listed, but are more advanced.  Under Window you will find all open documents listed.  The most useful tool for beginners is the Help button which opens the office assistant and allows you to ask questions about how to better use Word.

To view the variety of optionas under each word in the menu bar, take time now to open Word (Windows-from the start menu; Mac from the dock or Applications folder on the hard drive) and explore the options under each word.  ONce you click on one of the words, you can use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move across the menu bar and then use the enter key to open the box. A single, index finger mouse click also opens the menus.

Exercise 1

Do the following exercise. It demonstrates using the Microsoft Word menu.

1. Open Word
2. Type your name and adress on the first few lines
   
3. Point to the word File on the Menu bar.
4. Click your left mouse button with your index finger.
5. Select Save from the drop down menu
   
6. You have just saved your first document
7. Use this document to test other options on the menu bar
   

The Standard Toolbar

The Formatting Toolbar

Toolbars provide shortcuts to menu commands. Toolbars are generally located just below the Menu bar. If you do not see these toolbars when Word is opened, click the word Tools on the menu bar and select "Customize" near the bottom.  From the list of choices that appear, click the boxes in front of standard and format  to make the toolbars appear.  

Exercise 2

1. Point the mouse to the word Tools on the menu bar
2. click the customize button near the bottom
3. add your choice of toolbars 
4. click the "reset" tab 
5. name the choice  and click save or reset
   
6. observe what "lines" are added to your window
7. To reset the toolbar to the standard and formatting, follow the above steps and unclick whatever boxes you added  (or click the reset button and choose the "normal" option)
   
   Note: You turn the checkmark on and off by clicking the left mouse button.
   

With word, you can display your document in one of four views: Normal, Outline, Page Layout, or Online Layout.

Normal view

Normal view is the most often used and shows such formatting as line spacing, font, point size, and italics. Multiple-column text is displayed in one continuous column.

Web Layout view

The Online Layout view optimizes the document for online viewing (viewing the document in a browser).

Print Layout view

The Page Layout view shows the document as it will look when it is printed.

Outline view

Outline view displays the document in outline form. Headings can be displayed without the text. A heading can be moved and the accompanying text moved with it.

1. Point to View on the Menu bar.
2. Click your left mouse button with your index finger.
3. Select Normal to view the ruler toolbar only
   
4. Select Print Layout to add the ruler to the side
5. Web Layout and Outline have advanced uses
   

The area where the text for your document will appear is called the "text area."  The bliking line, called a cursor, indicates where the letters and word will appear.  The cursor can be moved to another section of typing by placing the arrow of the mouse where you want the cursor to appear and clicking with your index finger (left click).  (The arrow will disappear and a solid line with  crossbars on top and bottom will appear.) You can also use the arrow keys to move the cursor back and forth as well as up and down the page.Wherever the cursor is on the page is where the text will appear that you type.

Exiting Word
Once you begin creating a document, remember to save the document often.  A good practice is to save every five minutes or so.  This prevents tears and frustration when the technology fails--and it will fail, usually at the most inoportune time right before a deadline.  Complete exercise four to learn the saving process.

Exercise 4

1. Click the word File on the menu bar
2. Select the save option
3. In the dialogue box (window) that appears, type the name you want to give your file. (remeber that short titles work best)
4. Type the name in the white box
5. Look at the top left corner of the dialog box to see where the file will be saved
6. For Windows users, the file will usually go to the Documents folder; for Mac users, it will go to the last place that a document was saved
7. To change where the document is saved, click the small square with a triangle next to the word document or desktop and choose where you want the file to end up
8. Close Word (Windows users, click the red X in the right corner; Mac users, quit the program by pressing the apple key and the letter "Q" on the keyboard)
   
9. To find this file, open Word, click the open file folder on the standard toolbar or click the word  File on the menu bar and select open.