Introduction:

Creating documents with word processors requires your computer to be installed with a word processor application software. There are numerous word processors available either for free or on purchase. However all these software come while packed in either CD's or DVDs such as the one shown below:

There are various applications in each CD which can only be used after being installed in the computer.

Starting Microsoft Office 2010

There are two ways to start Microsoft Word with Windows07

A. Using the Search tool

1. On the task bar, Click on the start button.
2. On the search text box at the start menu type this command "winword.exe"
3. Click on the search result available to start Microsoft Word 2010

B. Using Programs Menu

On the task bar, Click on the start button.

1. Point to all programs option to open - all programs menu
2. Point and click on Microsoft Office folder
3. Choose Microsoft Word 2010

Screen Layout

click on the picture to enlarge

EXPLANATIONS

1. Quick launch toolbar

This is a combination of frequently used tools. The toolbar can be customized by the user to include what he/she uses frequently

2. Title bar

The title bar shows the name of the document and the application software in use.

3. Window Controls

This is a combination of command buttons namely:-

a) minimize button

The minimize button is used to minimize the application window into the task bar

b) Restore button

The restore button is used to maximize the application window to fit the screen layout and also minimize to a certain percentage level initially customized by the user

c) Close button

The close button is used to exit from the application window

4. Hide/display ribbon

This tool is used to hide/display controls on the ribbon

5. Help

This is a documentation that offers help and support for the user. i.e. how to navigate from one procedure to another

6. Ribbon Tabs

These tabs consist of various tools that can be used by the user to prepare his/her document e.g. editing, formatting etc.

7. Ribbon

This is a long stretch of controls that correspond to the type of ribbon tab selected

8. Ruler

There two types of rulers. namely:-

• horizontal ruler and
• vertical ruler

rulers are tools used to indent word documents

( indenting is the process of pushing text away from the page margin)

9. View/hide ruler

this is a control used to hide/display the ruler

10. Tab Selector

tabs are a paragraph formatting features used to align text.

Tab selector is used to choose different types of tab stops

11. Scroll bar

there are two types of scroll bars, namely:-

• Horizontal and
• vertical scroll bars

Scroll bars are used to move text into view on a large document just as the scroll wheel on the mouse or arrow keys on the keyboard

12. Text Area

This is a large white area where the user enters text and graphics to be manipulated

13. Insertion Point

This is a point where the next characters typed from the keyboard will appear on the display screen. The insertion point is usually represented by a blinking vertical line (I-beam pointer)

14. A cursor (a caret)

This is an indicator used to show the position on a computer monitor that will respond to input from a text input or pointing device

15. I-Beam Pointer (I-Cursor)

This is a mouse cursor shaped similar to the capital letter "I" that indicates text can be highlighted, inserted or changed

16. Status Bar

The status bar acts as a communication link (interaction) between the program user and the program itself. It displays the number of pages, words etc.

17. Zoom Controls

The zoom control is a tool used to enlarge or reduce the size of a document in relation to the application window

Creating a document

Creating a new document simply means making a news Word document to start using and there are two major ways of doing this.

1. Creating a new blank document
2. Creating a new document from a template

1. Creating a new blank document

2. Creating a new document from a template

A template is a pre-designed document you can use to create documents quickly without having to think about formatting.

Saving a Word Document

Saving is the process of writing data to a storage medium such as a flash disk or hard drive.

Save a document for the first time

1. On the Quick Access Toolbar, click Save , or press CTRL+S.
2. Type a name for the document, and then click Save.
   1. Word saves the document in a default location. To save the document in a different location, select another folder in the list of folders if your computer is running Windows 7, or in Favorite Links if your computer is running Windows Vista, or in the Save in list if your computer is running Microsoft Windows XP. If you want to change the default location where Word saves documents, adjust the settings for saving documents.

Save an existing document as a new document (Save As)

To prevent overwriting the original document, use the Save As command to create a new file as soon as you open the original document.

1. Open the document that you want to save as a new file.
2. Click the File tab.
3. Click Save As.
4. Type a name for the document, and then click Save.

Retrieving a document

To retrieve means to get a saved file from storage media. To retrieve:

1. Click on the file tab
2. Select open command from the drop down list
3. Locate the saved file from the dialog box displayed then click open

Closing a Document

Closing a word document means to exit the document from the application window. To close, proceed as follows:

1. Click on file tab
2. Then select close command on the drop down list displayed

Exiting A word Document

Exiting a document should not be confused with closing a Word document. To exit,

1. Click on the close button on the title bar
2. or on the file tab, click exit.

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