What's New In Microsoft Word 97?

The word processors of today have become far more sophisticated and dynamic in their abilities that word processors created even a mere 3 years ago. Sometimes, though, it is hard to keep up with all the improvements. In this section, we will discuss some of the new items in Microsoft Word 97, including

• Automating your tasks and getting assistance
• Editing and proofing tools
• Creating tables, borders, and shading
• Creating graphics
• Working with Web tools
• Collaborating with others

(Note: some of these improvements actually got their start in Word 95)

Automating your tasks and getting assistance

Word offers several methods of automating tasks. This makes it easier to work faster and more efficiently with your document.

1. AutoCorrect-Word can fix accidental usages of the caps lock key, add possessive to an AutoCorrect entry, fix multiple-word errors (such as "int he" to "in the"), and fixes certain grammatical errors
2. AutoFormat-As-You-Type-Word can make conversions of text codes, such as starting a bulleted or numbered list when you type an asterisk or number, single or double underlines with the typing of three --- or ===, and automatically applies styles, such as headings. Word will also create Internet links when a URL is typed in, and do rich formatting, such as making the word *bold* to be bold.
3. AutoComplete-Word can take common phrases, such as the current date, the owner of the software, the company name, or an AutoText entry, and complete it for you. When the AutoComplete suggestion, pops up, hitting [ENTER] completes it.
4. AutoSummarize-This gives Word the ability to read the document and select the key sentences in the document. You can then create this summary on a separate sheet.
5. Styles-Word can create a style for you automatically when you apply new formatting to a piece of text. It can also redefine styles automatically, and gives a preview of each style from the Style button on the Formatting toolbar.
6. Letter Wizard-The Letter Wizard steps you through the process of creating a new letter quickly, allowing you to customize the many different parts of a letter.
7. Office Assistant-This is a special dialog box that pops up with a character, such as a paper clip, a bouncing ball, a dog, or a cat, to assist you while working in Word. You can type in a question in your own words, and the assistant will match your question with topics in Word.

Editing and proofing tools

Word offers several intuitive choices to edit and proofread your document, even as you are still typing it.

1. Word will check spelling as you type, underlining unknown words with a red underline.
2. Word will check for grammatical errors as you type, marking errors with a green underline.
3. The spell-checking tools will recognize proper names, names of corporations, and ignores words with numbers or internet and file addresses
4. Find and Replace has been improved to recognize different forms of a particular word.

Creating tables, borders, and shading

Creating tables, borders, and shading items have become much easier in Word 97.

1. A new button, the Draw Table Tool, will let you draw a table just by clicking-and-dragging the mouse as if you were drawing the table with a pen.
2. The Eraser tool lets you erase borders, merging those cells together.
3. Word 97 will let you change the vertical alignment and rotation of text inside of a cell.
4. There are 150 new border styles, including many 3-D styles. You can also put borders around text and entire pages.
5. Shading can now be done to individual words inside of paragraphs.

Creating graphics

There are several new improvements when creating graphics.

1. OfficeArt has expanded to give many new drawing tools and shapes, including AutoShapes, textured pictures, and improved shadow and 3-D effects.
2. Placing graphics in your document is more intuitive. You can place objects anywhere you want simply by dragging them, even making them a watermark.
3. Text boxes now have the same capabilites as the OfficeArt, making them more flexible insider your document.
4. Linked text boxes allows you to continue text from one text box to another.

Working with Web tools

Word 97 allows you to make your documents so they can be read on the World Wide Web. There is a full section on our seminar pages concerning the Web and Word 97. Click here to access it. Listed below are some of the highlights.

1. Hyperlinks are automatically added to Word documents when you type in a Web address. You can also convert text to be a hyperlink.
2. The Web toolbar has several buttons for reading and editing documents for the Web.
3. Word can assist you in creating a Web page with the Web Page Wizard. You can also add HTML elements, such as tables, horizontal lines, headings, and other text.

Collaborating with others

If you are working on a document with other users, Word can keep documents organized to determine the history of a particular document.

1. Versioning a document will allow several users to mark areas that they have edited in a single document so everyone else knows who did what.
2. Several documents can be merged into one document so several people can consolidate their efforts on one major document.
3. Word allows users to add comment areas to a document, allowing people to give descriptions of a particular piece of text without opening up a new window. The text will be shaded yellow to indicate that a comment is attached to the text. Pointing to it brings up a ScreenTip.
4. Word also has a Reviewing Toolbar that makes it easier to track changes, insert comments, and save versions of the document.