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All Keyed Up

The most useful keyboard shortcuts for all versions of Word.

If you are upgrading to Word 2007 from an earlier version, plan for a period of adjustment. The radical interface-lift will have you scratching your head as you try to figure out where various frequently used commands have moved. Luckily, Word 2007 retains all of the keyboard shortcuts available in earlier versions. Microsoft has posted two handy-dandy reference tools on its Web site--one that helps you find Word 2003 commands in Word 2007, and another that lists the keyboard shortcuts for all versions of Word. Though Microsoft may seem to have mapped out every conceivable keyboard shortcut, it wisely offers you the wherewithal to make your own shortcuts for commands, macros, and other tasks. In Word 2007, click the arrow in the Quick Access Toolbar to the right of the Office button in the upper left corner of the screen. Select More Commands, and click the Customize button next to 'Keyboard shortcuts'.

In the Categories box, click the item that has the command or other task you want to assign a keyboard shortcut (to view your options, scroll down to and select All Commands). In the Commands box, choose the operation you want the shortcut to apply to. Remember that any default keyboard shortcut currently assigned to that command will be replaced with yours. You'll see the currently assigned shortcut in the 'Current keys' box.

Now you're ready to assign your shortcut. In the 'Press new shortcut key' box, type the key combination that you want to use. Press <Ctrl>-your key, or a combination of <Ctrl>, <Alt>, and/or <Shift>, and click Assign and then Close.

Microsoft has even tricked up Word 2007's Quick Access Toolbar with keyboard triggers. Press <Alt> and Word 2007 (or any other Office 2007 app) will superimpose a number over each command (icon) in the toolbar. Press that number while holding the <Alt> key to activate the command.

In Word 2000 to 2003, you create your own shortcuts by clicking ToolsA?CustomizeKeyboard, selecting the command you want to customize, pressing the combination in the 'Press new shortcut key' box, and clicking Assign.

To delete a shortcut in any version of Word, select it in the 'Current keys' box and click Remove.

Michael S. Lasky



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