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Word Processor The PC Workshop other pages database | spreadsheet | text editor

What is it?

Word, WordPerfect

If you're going to print formatted text, use a word processor. At its fullest, Word has enough desktop publishing capabilities to do most of what you would ask PageMaker or Quark to do at their low end. For all purposes other than preparing printed documents, other software does it better. I don't expect word processors as we know them to last much longer.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's Word is the clear market leader. Their MOUS (Microsoft Office User Specialist) certification program has an examination to validate expertise. We don't need the exam, but we can use the certification objectives as a starting point.

MOUS's Word: Core Objectives | Expert Objectives

Skills

formatting text for printing
low-end desktop publishing - laying out text and graphics
formatting multi-page documents for printing and binding

Recommendation

For most purposes, use something other than a word processor. Unless you're in a restricted (Microsoft-only) intranet, do not use Word for creating publicly available HTML documents. In theory and marketing hype, it can do that. In practice, it makes a bloated mess.

format fractions in Word

Pull down the Tools menu and select AutoCorrect, then AutoFormat.

Uncheck the option "Fractions 1/2 with Fraction character 1/2".

Then, in your Word document, press Ctrl+F9. Bold braces highlighted in gray will appear.

Inside these braces type (without quotes) "eq \f(x,y)". Don't forget the space between "eq" and "\f".

Example | To construct a formatted fraction for 5/9, enter in the brackets (without quotes) "eq \f(5,9)". While still inside the braces, press Shift+F9. You will have a new fraction.

So you won't have to go through that process with every fraction, anticipate those you need and repeat this procedure. First highlight the new fraction, go to Tools | AutoCorrect, and the new fraction will appear in the "Replace With" field. Add it into the field to be replaced. From then on every time you type, for example, 5/9, it will revert to the properly formatted fraction.