Help a computer idiot with WordXP problem?

[The Grump]

:) Thanks for just reading. The problem isn't Word. It's me.

Can anyone give me simple, step-by-step instructions for

1) changing "two spaces after periods to one"

2) removing the tabs/etc. for paragraphs.

I know where the find and replace is ... but what to I put in the spaces?

[CaoPaux]

For 1), put the characters for "periodspacespace" (". " no quotes) in the the Find field, and "periodspace" in the Replace field.

For 2), if it's not something you can do through the Format-->Paragraph menu, then to remove all tabs: At the bottom of the Find/Replace requester click on Special (you may need to click More first to show you the advanced functions), then click on Tab Character to insert the character (^t) in the Find field. (You can also enter ^t manually, of course.) Keep the Replace field blank, and it will replace all tabs with nothing = removing them.

[Maryn]

Be aware that when you remove tabs, ordinarily you would want to add a blank line between paragraphs. If that's what you want to do, you would search for ^t and replace it with ^p. That replaces each tab with a paragraph marking.

We're here to explain further if you need it. I wouldn't know a thing about computers if I hadn't had teenagers at just the right time.

Maryn, helpful

[rugcat]

I had to switch from WordPerfect to Word a couple of years ago, since that's what editors use and WP is a dinosaur.

I hate Word. It's totally counterintuitive, unnecessarily complex, and trying to figure out how to do something new is still a nightmare.

Hate it. Just hate it.

[Margarita Skies]

Just one comment for you since I can't really answer this question. You are not an idiot. You are an amazing person and not knowing how to do something does not make you an idiot. In fact, smart people ask for help, so you're smart.

[RJK]

Don't feel dumb about not understanding how to make Word work. The knuckleheads at Microsnort don't think like normal humans, and to make things worse, when they "Upgrade" the product, they move all the commands around so you have to re-learn them all over again.

[Margarita Skies]

Microsnort.



:ROFL:

[Jamesaritchie]

One space or two after periods is handled in the grammar check program. Open it under options, and it gives you the choice. You can change whatever you're done by selecting all, and then making the change under the correct grammar check box.

I'm not exactly sire what you mean by removing the tabs, but if you mean indents, you can set to zero or anything else. Again, selecting all, and then making the change removes or resets anything you've already done.

The only problem with Word is that users don't learn how to use it before they start using it.

[stormie]

The only problem with Word is that users don't learn how to use it before they start using it.
Because that would take a few years, then Microsoft would come out with the next edtion, change things around (ribbons! drop-downs! kill it!), forcing a writer to relearn everything.

[Clair Dickson]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jamesaritchie http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5367543#post5367543)
The only problem with Word is that users don't learn how to use it before they start using it.

riginally Posted by stormie
Because that would take a few years, then Microsoft would come out with the next edtion, change things around (ribbons! drop-downs! kill it!), forcing a writer to relearn everything. .Microsoft is damned if they do change things, and damned if they don't. *shrug* They add features users say they want, but then other users complain that those features have been added, and so on. Of course, no one forces a user to purchase a new version of Office.

As for the OP's problem-- if you're reformatting for submission, use the find and replace method. If you're setting things up to start fresh, you can change the settings for space after periods in Word Options (Tools--> Options) and either set the paragraphs to have a blank line after (Format--> Paragraph) or turn off Automatic indenting and just hit Enter after the last line of the paragraph. (I think the indenting is also Format--> Paragraph, but I don't currently have WordXP/2003 on my borrowed machine and can't verify.)

If you're formatting for submission, I would suggest saving the modified formatting version as a different file so that if you need the original formatting again (different submission, for example) that you don't have to undo what you have done.

Write on!

[AlexPiper]

Microsoft provides a standard manuscript format template for Word. (http://office.microsoft.com/en-ca/templates/CT010117271.aspx#ai:TC010083015|)

I know a few people who use that template, but I can't speak to how well it works from personal experience since I generally won't use Word except under duress. (I use a Mac writing program that has an 'export as Word .doc in standard manuscript format' option.) The template should work on any version of Word published after 2003.