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Hi, I'm Joel Levy owner of PC Applications. I have been providing quality Windows and MS Office Training and Consulting services to Central Colorado for over 16 Years. I have been specifically teaching computer classes since 1993 and bring incredible enthusiasm in a relaxed, laid back style that makes the learning fun and enjoyable. My personable teaching style makes it easy to understand concepts of how the software works, not just what buttons to click. My experience in working with Windows and ALL of the MS Office Applications at ALL levels allows me to explain things from a broad perspective comparing and contrasting MS Office features. Check out our website www.pcapplications.com

Saturday, September 25, 2010

More Words about Word: What's "Normal" in Normal Style?

Hello Again:

Well, some more words about Word. But first a question...What's a Style (as applied to software like Word)? How about a predefined compilation of formats (my definition)? Such as {Times New Roman, 12, Green, Left Aligned, 2 Line Spacing}. Each Style has a name and a definition of the formats that make up that Style. Then there are of course default settings such as the default Style for a given application. Microsoft seems to like the word 'Normal', many of the default settings in MS applications are set to Normal, although Normal may mean different settings for the specific format in this case. Excel has Normal Style by default but has different settings than Word.

As far as the Word Normal Style, low and behold, MS decided to change what Normal is for Word after Word 2003 (Word 2007). So, for those of you who have worked with both versions (or even 2010), you probably have "seen" this and wondered what happened.

In Word 2003 and earlier versions, basically the Normal Style is {Times New Roman, 12, Left Aligned, single space, no before or after spacing}, there are certainly other setting to fully define Normal, but good enough for comparison.

In Word 2007 and 2010, Normal is {Calibi, 11, Left Aligned, 1.15 Line Spacing, 0 pt Before, 10 pt After} and other settings.

The HUGE difference as I would see it, not so much the font change but the spacing changes and the implications. Word 2003 has single spacing with no before or after paragraph spacing, thus one would press Enter twice to create the end of a paragraph, a "blank line", and then start a new paragraph. In Word 2007, 2010, pressing Enter once, starts a new paragraph but 'appears' to have a blank line between the paragraphs. This is of course is due to the After Paragraph setting of 10 pts and the line spacing of 1.15. MS decided this for you. They decided the font and spacing setting are the most visually appealling and the easiest way to make it work.

So what if you want it to be the way it was? In Word 2007 notice there is a style "No Spacing", it is the old style spacing but still uses Calibri 11. To change the font, right click on "No Spacing" and choose Modify. In the lower left click Format, Font and then change it to what you want. Do this for any of the format options. After you are done changing any formats, click "New documents based on this template" to make it the default style for new docs. You could do the same thing to the Normal Style, just modify IT and make it the default. You could even create a New Style and make it the default...

So you don't have to be Normal I guess is the bottom line...

Take care in the meantime until next time. Joel

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