Author Topic: Formatting Microsoft Word  (Read 7932 times)

Offline Yehudaa

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #40 on: October 23, 2020, 02:32:21 PM »
Question: I want to create a format template that can change existing documents. What is it called, and how do I set it up?

Let me explain. I download Rabbi Reisman's parsha sheet every week (h/t @Yehudaa ) but I don't like the formatting. So every week, I change the font, make it 'justified', indent the first line, make it two columns, and make the title larger, and then I print it. Is there a way I can set up a style so that I can open the file and push one button for that all to happen?
Does pasting this week's text as 'keep text only' into last week's corrected version accomplish that? It's not one click but it's something....

And thanks for the HT.

ETA: The only thing that definitely wouldn't come through is a larger title...

Offline YitzyS

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #41 on: October 23, 2020, 02:34:25 PM »
Does pasting this week's text as 'keep text only' into last week's corrected version accomplish that? It's not one click but it's something....

And thanks for the HT.
That would take care of most of the criteria, but I think there is an official way to do it. I'm hoping someone pipes up with it.

The h/t is well-deserved. If there is one thing that I'll take away from this pandemic, it's that it introduced me to those weekly perspectives, which I often share at my Shabbos seuda.

Offline how

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #42 on: October 23, 2020, 02:36:18 PM »
Question: I want to create a format template that can change existing documents. What is it called, and how do I set it up?

Let me explain. I download Rabbi Reisman's parsha sheet every week (h/t @Yehudaa ) but I don't like the formatting. So every week, I change the font, make it 'justified', indent the first line, make it two columns, and make the title larger, and then I print it. Is there a way I can set up a style so that I can open the file and push one button for that all to happen?
Did you try paste options
Paste unformatted Unicode text?

Offline YitzyS

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #43 on: October 23, 2020, 02:47:21 PM »
Did you try paste options
Paste unformatted Unicode text?
I'm trying to make a template that can be applied to an existing document. There exists such a concept, I just don't know what it's called, so I can't just google it.

Offline Yo ssi

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #44 on: October 23, 2020, 03:01:23 PM »
I'm trying to make a template that can be applied to an existing document. There exists such a concept, I just don't know what it's called, so I can't just google it.
You can always google how to google ;) (after all GIYF)

Something like this?
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/load-or-unload-a-template-or-add-in-program-2479fe53-f849-4394-88bb-2a6e2a39479d
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Offline lcm

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #45 on: October 24, 2020, 08:30:32 PM »
Are you thinking of a macro?

The reason why most one button solutions won't work is because MS word doesn't know what text is what in order to do something with it. (Exception would be if it's already formatted with styles in MS word, I don't know if that's your scenario).

The best solution that comes to mind is to create a template and styles.

This might be obvious, so excuse me if it is and this is not what you wanted.

That would mean as follows:
Take a pre-existing file formatted to your liking.
Select (highlight) each area that has its own formatting. Then create a style with the formatting of the selected text.

There should be an option to save the file as a template. Otherwise, just saving it as a regular file will still do the trick.

Now, the next week, paste in the desired text as plain text into that file.
Then, select each text that should have its own format, and then head over to the style bar and apply the style that you created for that area (by clicking that style).

Ta-da! You should have a slightly easier time doing your weekly routine.

Offline YitzyS

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #46 on: October 24, 2020, 08:42:41 PM »
Are you thinking of a macro?

The reason why most one button solutions won't work is because MS word doesn't know what text is what in order to do something with it. (Exception would be if it's already formatted with styles in MS word, I don't know if that's your scenario).

The best solution that comes to mind is to create a template and styles.

This might be obvious, so excuse me if it is and this is not what you wanted.

That would mean as follows:
Take a pre-existing file formatted to your liking.
Select (highlight) each area that has its own formatting. Then create a style with the formatting of the selected text.

There should be an option to save the file as a template. Otherwise, just saving it as a regular file will still do the trick.

Now, the next week, paste in the desired text as plain text into that file.
Then, select each text that should have its own format, and then head over to the style bar and apply the style that you created for that area (by clicking that style).

Ta-da! You should have a slightly easier time doing your weekly routine.
I'm not sure what a macro is.

I'm slightly familiar with the style panel, but it seems to still be a lot of work. I'll do this if I can't figure out an easier way.

I don't mind selecting the titles and formatting them separately. I wish there would be one button to push that would change the entire font, make it two columns, justify the text, and indent the first lines. I would take it from there...

Offline lcm

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #47 on: October 24, 2020, 08:53:50 PM »


I'm not sure what a macro is.

I'm slightly familiar with the style panel, but it seems to still be a lot of work. I'll do this if I can't figure out an easier way.

I don't mind selecting the titles and formatting them separately. I wish there would be one button to push that would change the entire font, make it two columns, justify the text, and indent the first lines. I would take it from there...

Macro is like an automated workflow, within ms word.

The style panel really isn't complicated. It's really an awesome powerful tool, just play around and explore it.

Using a style basically is that one button that you can press and will do basically all those things that you want to the selected text

Offline YitzyS

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #48 on: October 24, 2020, 08:54:32 PM »

Macro is like an automated workflow, within ms word.

The style panel really isn't complicated. It's really an awesome powerful tool, just play around and explore it.

Using a style basically is that one button that you can press and will do basically all those things that you want to the selected text
Cool. I'll play around with it.

Offline lcm

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #49 on: October 24, 2020, 08:56:51 PM »
Right click a style and click modify.
And don't forget to click format in the bottom left corner of the dialog box.
You will be awed :)

Offline etech0

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #50 on: October 24, 2020, 09:56:17 PM »
Question: I want to create a format template that can change existing documents. What is it called, and how do I set it up?

Let me explain. I download Rabbi Reisman's parsha sheet every week (h/t @Yehudaa ) but I don't like the formatting. So every week, I change the font, make it 'justified', indent the first line, make it two columns, and make the title larger, and then I print it. Is there a way I can set up a style so that I can open the file and push one button for that all to happen?
I would start by recording a macro, and see if you can use it on other documents. First select the whole thing (control-a), start recording, do the font changes, justify, modify the indent, set the columns... and stop recording.

If it works well you may be able to use it to automate most of the changes you make, if not all. If you know any VBA or know someone who does, it can probably be tweaked to do more (when you record a macro, microsoft "writes" VBA code for you to "remember" what you did - sometimes it needs tweaking though).
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline gozalim

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #51 on: October 24, 2020, 10:00:17 PM »
If it is "select all, make these 6 changes" a macro turns those 6 into one.
There is a word option of loading an existing template onto a document.
Take one, modify the existing styles (without renaming them) save as template.
Take next one, load that template into it, see how much of the changes happen automatically

Offline YitzyS

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #52 on: October 24, 2020, 10:41:14 PM »
I have a lot of homework, but I'm looking forward. I'll report back. Thanks!

Offline YitzyS

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #53 on: October 24, 2020, 10:57:46 PM »
If it is "select all, make these 6 changes" a macro turns those 6 into one.
Works!!

It takes care of font, size, justify, indentation, and columns. I just have to manually change back the title to one column and make it bigger, which I can easily do with styles.

Great work, guys!

Offline Yo ssi

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #54 on: October 24, 2020, 11:11:18 PM »
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Offline YitzyS

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #55 on: October 24, 2020, 11:15:49 PM »
FTFY :)
Hardly so. I just followed instructions.

I was lost in this matter, and I put out the question. A bunch of DDFers jumped in to help, and I'm now a lot more knowledgeable in this matter, which will help me a lot in the future.

I call that a group effort, and everyone deserves some credit. So I'll unapologetically reiterate, great work, guys!

Offline YitzyS

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Re: Formatting Microsoft Word
« Reply #56 on: January 01, 2021, 11:16:12 AM »
Just reporting back: I've been using the Macro every week, and it works great! Saves me so much time. Thanks again!