WORD PROCESSING

Microsoft Word is a word processor developed by Microsoft. It was first released on October 25, 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems.Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCsrunning DOS (1983), Apple Macintosh running Classic Mac OS (1985), AT&T Unix PC (1985), Atari ST (1988), OS/2 (1989), Microsoft Windows (1989), SCO Unix (1994), and macOS (2001). Commercial versions of Word are licensed as a standalone product or as a component of Microsoft Office, Windows RT or the discontinued Microsoft Works suite. Microsoft Word Viewerand Office Online are freeware editions of Word with limited features.

INTRODUCTION TO WORD 2007

You will notice some obvious changes immediately after starting Word 2007.  For starters, the top bar has a completely new look, consisting of new features, buttons and naming conventions.  Don’t be alarmed, Word has been redesigned with a fresh new look that offers a more efficient and straight forward approach.  What’s new in Word 2007 is outlined below.

1. Microsoft Office Button:   A button that provides access to menu commands in Word.  The Microsoft Office Button replaces the File button in previous versions.  Here is where you will find commonly known features such as New, Open, Save, Print and Recent Documents.  This is also where you will find the Word Options commands that were previously located in the Tools menu in previous versions. 
2. Ribbon:  An area across the top of the screen that makes almost all the capabilities of Word available in a single area.  The Ribbon replaces the menus and toolbars in previous versions.  The Ribbon exposes most of the features that used to be hidden in File menus.  The Ribbon makes it easier to see and find commands to format your document.  The Ribbon can be reduced to a single line of tabs by pressing CTRL + F1.
3. Tab:  An area on the Ribbon that contains buttons that are organized in groups.  The default tabs are Home, Insert, Page Layout, Reference, Mailings, Review and View.
4. Quick Access Toolbar:  A customizable toolbar at the top of an active document.  By default the Quick Access Toolbar displays the Save, Undo, and Repeat buttons and is used for easy access to frequently used commands.  To customize this toolbar click on the drop down arrow and select the commands you want to add.
5. Title Bar:  A horizontal bar at the top of an active document.  This bar displays the name of the document and application.  At the right end of the Title Bar is the Minimize, Restore and Close buttons.
6. Groups Categories:  A Group of buttons on a tab that are exposed and easily accessible.  These buttons were formally embedded in menus on the Menu Bar
7. Dialog Box Launcher:  A button that launches a dialog box containing options for refining a command.
8. Status Bar:  A horizontal bar at the bottom of an active window that gives details about the active document.
9. View Toolbar:   A toolbar that enables, adjusts, and displays different views of a document’s content.
10. Zoom Button:  A button that magnifies or reduces the contents in the document window.

THE NEW WORD ENVIRONMENT

The new Word environment has been designed so that its powerful features are easier to find when you need them. This design reflects the way in which people generally work with the program.  In previous versions, commands were primarily located in a Menu list.In Word 2007 the commands are displayed on the Ribbon for easy access. 

Understanding the Ribbon:
There are three basic components to the Ribbon: 

• Tabs sit across the top of the Ribbon. Each one contains buttons that are organized in groups.
• Groups are sets of related commands. They pull together all the commands you're likely to need for a type of task, and they remain on display and readily available, giving you rich visual aids.
• Commands are represented as Buttons. The term Buttons replaces the term Icon in previous versions.

Contextual Tabs are designed to appear on the Ribbon when certain objects or commands are selected.  These tabs provide easy access to options specific to the selected object or command. For example, the commands for editing a picture will not be available until the picture is selected, at which time the Picture Tools tab will appear. 

To Create a New Word Document:

1. Click the Microsoft Office Button.
2. Click New.
3. Select Blank Document.
4. Click on Create.

Navigating in a Document:
The following table lists ways to navigate in a document using your keyboard to move the insertion point in an active document:

To Display Different Views:

1. Click the View tab, in the Documents Views group.
2. Click on the desired view

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