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Issue 6: Microsoft Word - Setting AutoCorrect, AutoText and AutoFormat
Microsoft Word includes a number of time-saving features. A few that help automate some of the more repetitive tasks you may perform are shown here:
AutoCorrect
Do you often type the same word or phrase, such as your name, or product names, etc? Word’s AutoCorrect feature can automatically change a few characters into the word or phrase. To set up this:
Click the Tools menu then click AutoCorrect Options or AutoCorrect
Click the AutoCorrect tab
In the Replace box, type the few characters that will define the word or phrase (note this is case sensitive and shouldn’t be a dictionary word).
In the With box, type the full name or phrase.
Click the Add button then click OK.
When you type the abbreviation and press the space bar, the Enter key or type a punctuation mark, the abbreviation will be replaced with the full name or phrase.
AutoText
AutoText is similar to the AutoCorrect feature, but whole paragraphs can be inserted by typing just a few characters. This can be particularly useful if you use standard paragraphs, such as in quotations, contracts etc. To create an AutoText entry:
Highlight the paragraph you would like to set up as AutoText.
Click the Tools menu then click AutoCorrect Options or AutoCorrect
Click the AutoText tab
The entire text will appear in the Preview box. Type a name of four or more characters in the Enter AutoText entries here field (it will contain the first few words of the text by default).
Click Add
When you type the abbreviation and press the Enter or Tab keys, the full paragraph will be inserted.
Note that with both AutoCorrect and AutoText, Word will allow you to use the same letters to define a word or phrase, but in the event of duplication, the AutoCorrect one will take precedence.
Auto-Formatting
While on the subject of automatic actions, sometimes Word changes your text without asking. Some of the settings that control such behaviour can be found by accessing the same AutoCorrect screen shown above:
Click the Tools menu then click AutoCorrect Options or AutoCorrect
To view the options, click the AutoCorrect and AutoFormat As You Type tabs.
For an explanation of a function, click the ? at the top right of the window then click on an option.
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