By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• Identify the parts of the Word window
• Create a new document
• Open a previously saved file
• Change the document view

The Word window

Word is the word processing application included in the Microsoft Office 2000 suite. Aside from Word processing, Word allows you to perform many tasks in a typical office environment.

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 tutorial, here is a brief explanation of the Word window.

Title bar

This displays the document name followed by a program name.

Menu bar

This contains a list of options to manage and customize documents.

Standard toolbar

This contains shortcut buttons for the most popular demands.

Formatting toolbar

This contains buttons that are used for formatting text.

Ruler

This is used to set margins, indents, and tabs.

Insertion point

This is the location where the next character appears.

End-of-document marker

This indicates the end of the document.

Scroll bars

This is used to view parts of the document.

Status bar

This displays the position of the insertion point and working mode buttons.

Office Assistant

This links to the Microsoft Office Help feature.

Create a new document

There are three ways to create a new document in Word.

1. When you launch Word, it automatically creates a new document.
2. Choose File New (Ctrl+N).
3. Click the New Blank Document button on the Standard toolbar.

Opening a previously saved file

You will spend a lot of time editing documents you created and saved at an earlier time. There are four ways to open a previously saved file.

To open a previously saved file:

• Choose File Open (Ctrl+O).
  
  OR
• Click the Open button on the Standard toolbar .
  
  OR
• The last four files you saved appear at the bottom of the File menu . Choose one from the list.

Remember: Save As allows you to save a document under a new name. This is important to do when you intend to edit or revise a document because you may want to keep the original.

A change in view

Word processing requires you to stare at a computer screen for long periods of time. In order to alleviate the strain on your eyes, Word provides four different ways Word elements are displayed. The four views are Normal view, Print Layout view, Web Layout view, and Outline view.

Normal view is used for most typing, editing, and formatting. It provides a nice, clean look without rulers or page numbers cluttering your view.

Web Layout view shows what your text will look like on a webpage.

Print Layout view shows what your document will look like when it is printed. Print Preview shows you this as well.

Outline view is used to create and edit outlines. This view is particularly handy when making notes.

To change your document view:

• Choose View click the view of your choice.
  
  
  
  OR
• Click one of the four buttons at the bottom-left of your Word window.
  
  

Challenge!

• Start Word.
• Create a new document.
• Type the following: "This exercise helped me learn how to open existing Word documents."
• Save your document using any name you want.
• Close the document without exiting Word.
• Open the document you just created.