Introduction to Micosoft Word, the basics

This course is part of the Digital Skills training and also serves as an introduction to the Word office training program.

Lesson Duration: 40 min
Level: Beginner
Objectives:

General Ergonomics
Properties

Tab stops

Creating a long document

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Les Messageries mail Microsoft et Google

Les présentations Microsoft, Google et LibreOffice

Les tableurs Microsoft, Google et LibreOffice

Les traitements de texte Microsoft, Google et LibreOffice

When typing a text, line breaks do not need to be managed manually. The text editor automatically moves to the next line if there isn’t enough space for the following word. This is called “continuous typing.” The line is only a stable element in a digital document when a paragraph break is indicated by pressing Enter. Text flow may vary based on formatting changes.

For instance, if font size is increased, fewer words fit on a single line. Text characters can be printable (letters, numbers, punctuation, etc.) or non-printable.

There are three main categories of text properties:

• Character properties apply to individual characters (usually words): font, size, color, underline, etc.;
• Paragraph properties apply to entire paragraphs: alignment, line spacing, indents, spacing, borders, bullet points, tab stops, etc.
• Page (and section) properties apply across pages and sections: color changes, landscape or portrait orientation, borders, headers, footers, etc.

Tab Stops

Tab stops (or indents) allow text to be aligned in columns.

1. Setting a tab stop
   1. Write the word
   2. Set the tab stop on the ruler
   3. Press the “Tab” key
2. In the application:
   1. In Page Layout, set the indent to the desired measurement
   2. Type the text

Styles and Numbering

Office software offers predefined styles: Styles enable consistent formatting across a document, allowing quick and efficient adjustments to settings for the entire text.

In a long document, styles will define: Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3, Body text, Header, Footer, Caption, etc.

For headings, styles also define document levels and will help generate the table of contents: font size, font, color, numbering, etc. As you build, apply styles such as Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3:

1. Fables of La Fontaine
   1. General Course
      1. The Crow and the Fox
      2. The Tortoise and the Hare
   2. Analysis
      1. Social
      2. Philosophical

1. Grimm’s Fairy Tales
   1. General Course

• Paragraph style allows you to set line spacing, top and bottom spacing, left and right alignment, colors, etc.

Hello everyone↵
With line break¶

Predefined styles can be used or new ones can be created. To modify the format of a document, simply adjust the style properties.

If all level 1 headings (Heading 1) should be red, this color can be specified in the style properties.

Header, Footer and Page Numbering

It is possible to set common elements in the layout of a digital document (header, footer, margin, orientation, column count, etc.). Depending on the software, these properties are defined in page styles or section properties.

Double-clicking at the top or bottom of the page opens the specific menu.

This menu allows you to add the page number, select header and footer templates.

You can also configure different headers and footers for odd and even pages or remove annotations from the cover page.