Archive for the ‘Word 2010’ Category

Transparent Text Boxes in Word

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Everyone knows you can create text boxes in MS Word.  They certainly come in handy at times. I have clients in law offices that use them to create line numbering in a sidebar and other clients who use them to box text, like I do when creating a tutorial that includes screen shots. There could be a time however, when you might like whatever is behind your text box to be visible.

There are a couple of ways to accomplish this:

  • You can make your text box partially transparent; or
  • Completely transparent.

Follow the steps below to learn how:

  1. Create your text box as you normally would.
  2. Right-click on your text box to display a Context menu.
  3. Select Format Text Box from the context menu to display the dialog box.
  4. Be certain the Colors and Lines tab has been selected.

  1. Click the Semitransparent check box for a ghosted image of what is behind your text box to be visible.
  2. If you want your text box to be fully transparent, use the Color setting in the Fill area to select No Fill.
  3. Display the Layout tab.

  1. Be certain the Wrapping style is set to None or In Front of Text.
  2. Click on OK.

Versions 2003, 2007, 2010

Print Multiple Selections in MS Excel

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Sometimes there is a need to print out a medley of selections from different worksheets and have them all on one sheet of stationery.

You can do this by setting up a “Print” worksheet that you use for printing.

Follow the steps below to learn how:

  1. Create a new worksheet to be used for printing purposes.
  2. Select the range on the worksheet that you would like to print.
  3. Click the shortcut key combination Ctrl + C  to copy your selection.
  4. Move to your new Print sheet and select the cell where you would like your copied data to appear.
  5. Click on Edit | Paste Special in version 2003 and in versions 2007 – 2010, click on the Home tab of your Ribbon and click the down-arrow under the Paste tool at the left side of your Ribbon and select Paste Special from the menu displayed.
  6. The Paste Special dialog box will open.
  7. Click on Paste Link. The dialog box will disappear and the linked information will appear in your worksheet.
  8. Repeat the steps above for any other ranges you would like included on your printout.

Then print your worksheet with the information.

The only problem you may encounter using this method is that if the worksheets from which you are copying have different formatting, you may not be able to merge them into a consolidated worksheet to your satisfaction. In that instance, you will need to adjust the formatting in your consolidation worksheet after you paste the different ranges.

Keep your Table on One Page in MS Word

Monday, January 30th, 2012

When you create large, complex documents (i.e., technical manuals, theses, etc.) you will find that you are adding tables to them. It has been my experience that most tables in these documents are not very long and can very easily fit onto one page. Having said that, it can be problematic when there is a page break smack dab in the middle of your table.

Follow the steps below to prevent such behavior:

  1. Select all rows in your table.
  2. Display the Paragraph dialog box by clicking on Format | Paragraph in version 2003 and in versions 2007-2010, click on the Home tab of your Ribbon and click the small icon at the bottom-right of the Paragraph group.
  3. Be certain the Line and Page Breaks tab is selected.
  4. Select the Keep Lines Together check box.
  5. Click on OK.

Having done that, you now need to repeat the steps, with two very minor changes.

  1. First, in step one, select all the rows in your table except the last one.
  2. In step four, make sure the Keep with Next check box is selected.

This will make sure that your table stays together as a unit rather than staying with teh paragraph that follows it.