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(Legacy) Microsoft Word 2007: Learning Document Basics

Last updated

This article is based on legacy software.

Once Word is open, you can begin creating documents. The following instructions will guide you through the basics of creating, saving, opening, printing, and closing out of documents in Word 2007.

Creating a New Document

You can create new documents by using the menu option or the keyboard shortcut. The menu option gives you more options for choosing your new document, but the keyboard shortcut is the faster and easier way of getting a blank document on your screen.

Creating a New Document: Keyboard Option

  1. Press [Ctrl] + [N]
    NOTES: A new blank document appears.
    This can be done under any command tab.

Creating a New Document: Menu Option

  1. From the OFFICE BUTTON office button , select New
    The New Document dialog box appears.
    new document

  2. From the Blank and recent section, click BLANK DOCUMENT
    A new blank document appears.

Opening an Existing Document

Follow these instructions to open already existing documents.

  1. From the OFFICE BUTTON office button , select Open
    OR
    Press [Ctrl]+[O]
    The Open dialog box appears.

  2. From the Look in pull-down list, navigate to and select the desired file
    HINTS:
    All Word document files are displayed.
    If the desired file is not listed, it may have another file extension. From the Files of type pull-down list, select All Files.

  3. To open the file, click OPEN
    The document is opened.

Saving a Document

The Save and Save As commands are located within the File menu. If you are saving a document for the first time, both selections will take you to the Save As dialog box.

Saving a Document: First Time

Use this option if you are saving your document for the first time or if you are saving an already saved file under a new name.

  1. From the OFFICE BUTTON office button , select Save As save as
    NOTE: Do not click on the side arrow as it will not allow the Save As function to occur.
    The Save As dialog box appears.

    save as

  2. From the Save in pull-down list, make the appropriate selection:
    To save to your H: drive or another network drive, select (H:) or another network drive
    HINT: For a quicker way to find files, use the Places Bar. For more information, refer to The Office 2007 Environment.

  3. In the File name text box, type a filename
    HINTS:
    To help you locate the file in the future, use a descriptive filename.
    Do not include a file extension; Word automatically adds a .docx extension.

  4. (Optional) From the Save as type pull-down menu, select the type of file
    NOTE: To share this file with users who have a previous version of Word, save as a Word 97-2003 file.

  5. Click SAVE
    The document is saved.

Saving a Document: Subsequent Times

Use the Save command to save a document that has already been named and saved. If you select the Save command and you have not saved the document before, the Save As dialog box will appear. Use the Save command frequently to save changes to your document.

  1. Press [Ctrl] + [S]
    OR
    From the OFFICE BUTTON office button , select Save
    OR
    On the Quick Access Toolbar, click SAVE save
    The document is saved under the current filename.

Printing a Document

When you want to print your document, you can use Print Preview, under the file menu, to see how your document will be printed. When you are ready to print, you can print directly from the Print Preview screen, or use the Print menu option. You can also change the default printer for future documents.

Printing a Document: Using Print Preview

The Print Preview feature is useful for viewing your document prior to printing. You can also print directly from the Print Preview screen.

  1. Click the OFFICE BUTTON office button
    The OFFICE BUTTON menu appears.

  2. From the OFFICE BUTTON menu, click the arrow next to PRINT print
    The Preview and print the document submenu appears.

  3. In the Preview and print the document submenu, click PRINT PREVIEW print preview

  4. To return to your document without printing, on the Print Preview command tab, click CLOSE PRINT PREVIEW
    Print Preview closes.
    To print, on the Print Preview command tab, in the Print group, click PRINT print
    The Print dialog box appears.

  5. From the Name pull-down list, select the desired printer

  6. In the Page range and Copies sections, make the desired selections
    HINT: For more information about page range options, refer to Printing Options for Specific Pages.

  7. To print your document, click OK

Printing a Document

  1. From the OFFICE BUTTON office button , click PRINT print
    OR
    Press [Ctrl] + [P]
    HINT: Do not click the Print options arrow, which brings up only the Quick Print or Print Preview options.
    The Print dialog box appears.

  2. From the Name pull-down list, select the desired printer

  3. In the Page range and Copies sections, make the desired selections
    HINT: For more information about page range options, refer to Printing Options for Specific Pages.

  4. To print your document, click OK
    The document is printed.

Printing a Document: Quick Print Option

WARNING: When you use this option, all pages of your document are printed. This print process does not take you through the Print dialog box, so you cannot select any print options.

  1. Click the OFFICE BUTTON office button
    The OFFICE BUTTON menu appears.

  2. From the OFFICE BUTTON menu, click the arrow next to PRINT print
    The Preview and print the document submenu appears.

  3. In the Preview and print the document submenu, click QUICK PRINT quick print
    Your document prints instantly.

Printing a Document: Setting a Default Printer

To make printing faster and easier, you can set a default printer that will automatically be used every time you print.

  1. Click the Windows Start button, select Printers and Faxes
    The Printers and Faxes window appears.

  2. Right click the desired printer » select Set as Default Printer
    The default printer is set.

  3. To save the changes, close the window

Closing a Document

When you are finished working on your document, you have two options, depending on whether you are finished using Word or not.

Closing a Document: Continuing Word

  1. From the OFFICE BUTTON office button , click CLOSE close
    If you have made changes that have not been saved, a prompt appears asking you if you want to save the document.

  2. To save the document, click YES
    To close without saving, click NO
    To continue working, click CANCEL

  3. Open another document or create a new document

Closing a Document: Exiting Word

  1. From the OFFICE BUTTON office button , click EXIT WORD exit word
    OR
    Click CLOSE x in the upper right corner of the Word window
    If you have made changes that have not been saved, a prompt appears asking you if you want to save the document.

  2. To save any open document(s), click YES
    To close without saving, click NO
    To continue working, click CANCEL