Where do I Find the Old Buttons?

If you have used Word for some time and just recently changed to the 2007 version, you are probably going to have some initial problems locating the functions you are used to. This is primarily because many functions have been redesigned in connection with implementation of the “Ribbon”. In some cases the functions have also changed name. I am going to list the most important functions, so you can get used to the new interface as quickly as possible.

New, Open, Save and Save As are located in the Office button. The quick Save function can also be found in the ”Quick Access” toolbar, next to the Office button. Cut, Copy, Paste and Paste Special are located leftmost on the Home Tab in the Ribbon. If you click at the bottom of the large Paste button, it is the same as Paste Special.

Preview and Print are located in the Office button as sub-points to the Print menu point. I recommend that you put them in the Quick Access toolbar, so they are easier to access.

Styles is located in the Home Tab in the Ribbon. You can modify the individual styles by right-clicking on the buttons and choose the menu item Edit.

There is no longer a field in the Ribbon where you can just type the name of the Style, if it is not already on the list. To find the Styles that Microsoft did not think were important, click on what I call "The Secret Button" (see Figure 1). I call it ”The Secret Button” because it took me three cups of coffee to find the ”Heading 3” Style. The Secret Button opens a list of many Styles, but if you want to see ALL the pre-designed Styles, including “Heading 3”, click Settings and select All in the Select Styles box shown. That enables you to use any Style.

Figure 1

To access Columns, select the Page Setup Tab in the Ribbon, then click on the Columns button. There are some pre-designed configurations to choose from, but if you want to control everything, you can click Custom Columns at the bottom of the menu that appears. Now you are inside the window that previously controlled everything about page setup.