Using Microsoft Word
(Edited 5/09/04 ADA Copyright Symbol2001 The Garlic Press)
Exercise

Microsoft Word 2000 Basics
Word Basics (This Page)
Word Editing
Word Advanced Editing

Table of Contents

A. Introduction
Note: There are many different ways to learn computer applications. We offer two ways; tutorial instructions, see below, and exercises, see above. For beginners we suggest reading through the material and proceed to the exercises starting from exercise one and working your way up. For intermediate or advanced users try the exercises first, if you are not able to complete all of the exercises,  refer back to these instructions.  Regardless of which method you use learning is in doing!
These instructions will get you started using word processing, the computer program students will probably use the most. They are not a substitute for a good manual (check your local bookstore) but they are a good, cheep start. In these instructions you will learn how to use the most popular word processor, Microsoft Word. These instructions are written for the version of Word currently available on the server at California State University, Bakersfield. The instructions assume you know how to turn on a computer, how to start and quit a program, how to save a file to a hard drive or a floppy disk, and how to use a mouse. If you are not familiar with these skills, click on the introductory link, listed below.
Note: If you are unfamiliar with the use of the Windows 95/98 on the PC, please check out Introduction to PC Windows.
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C. Versions of Word
There are many versions of Microsoft's Word program.  Word 2000 is the current version on the Windows PC platform.  Word 8.0 is the current version on the Macintosh platform.  The previous version on Windows was version 7.5. If you have a Mac version 8 or Windows version 7.5 click here Word 7.5 and 8.0 If you want more info on versions of Word click here.
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D. Starting Word
(1) Find and start the Word Application
There are several ways to start a CSUB Windows application using either the Start button, My Computer, or folders containing shortcuts. The two we will use are:

Desktop Folder
If you see the folder for the Microsoft office on the desktop, you can double click on the icon to open the folder, then double click the Microsoft Office icon.
(a) Find and double click  the Microsoft Office folder
Office Folder

(b) Double click the Microsoft Word icon in the folder window.

Office Foldert Window
Figure 1
Start Button
Using the Start button
(1) Click the Start button one time
(2) Drag up to Microsoft Office and across to Microsoft Word.
Note: If you are using an office or home computer use the Start button to find and start Word 
(1) Click the Start button one time 
(2) Drag up to Programs the across to Microsoft Office and across to Microsoft Word

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Writing
(1) Word may open with limited toolbars showing. If you want the ruler at the top of your document choose Ruler from the View menu.  If you want toolbars, choose Toolbars from the View menu and click the toolbars you want. I suggest clicking in the box by standard, formatting and possibly Tables and Borders, (toward the bottom of the list).
 
Initially menus show only the most frequently used choices, to see the whole list of choices, click the expansion arrow, , at the bottom of the menu choices.
Menu View Tools
Figure 2

(2) With the above choices, the startup screens vary but most will look somewhat like the following example of a Word 2000 startup screen on a CSUB lab windows computer:
 
File Name 
Menus

Toolbars 
 
 

Input 
  Window

 Word Window
                                              Figure 3
The File Name is the name you will give this document or file. At the present time this one is called  "Document2".  Yours will be "Untitled" on a Mac or "Document1" on a Windows computer.

(3) Type as you would on a typewriter. You do not need to press the <Return> key unless you want to leave a space, a blank line or start a new paragraph. Use <Enter>, <Tab>, and/or the <space bar> to position the blinking input cursor on lines.

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Saving
Menu File Save as
Figure 4
Save Dialog Box
Figure 5
Save as -- Save in: box
Figure 6
Note: 
(1) Save often, computers "crash" or "freeze" and all work since last time saved is lost. 

(2) There are keyboard shortcuts for major menu choices.  Using these makes the task quicker and easier.  The shortcut for re-saving a document after changes is to press and hold down the : 

<Ctrl>
then press and release the 
<s>
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Printing
For most printing, the following will suffice.
Print Dialog Box
Figure 7
Note: 
(1) CSUB labs charge a small per page fee. Check the lab assistants on printing specifics for the labs. 
(2) There are other options but these vary with different printers 
(3) You can use the shortcut accessing the print dialog box: 
Macintosh:  <Apple/Cloverleaf> then <p> 
Windows95/98/2000/XP:  <Ctrl> then <p>

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Quitting Word and Shut Down the Computer
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Accessing an Existing Document
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Exercise 0: A simple practice exercise
Check out this exercise.  You will perform some of the basic tasks treated in this tutorial.  If you are a beginner it is suggested you wait until your review of the next tutorial before trying the other exercises.

Word Basics (This Page)
Word Editing
Word Advanced Editing