Word 2000 in a Nutshell

Preface

In the years since its creation, Word has grown from a simple word processor to a complex program with more functions than any one person could ever want. Word has consistently topped the list of the really great applications around. One of the best things I can say about it is that you can fire it up, start typing right away, and produce a pretty nice document—no experience necessary. There is also no end to the amount of functionality you can uncover if you feel like digging.

Of course, Word has its problems. It can be slow. It crashes sometimes (it even crashed while I was writing this preface). The interface is often frustratingly complex. Error messages are not helpful and the help system leaves a lot to be desired.

I’ve been using Word since it was created, and during the year I’ve spent writing this book, I’ve used it a lot. I considered myself a pretty savvy Word user when I started work on the book, but I quickly found out just how wrong I was. Like most of the people I’ve worked with, I had no idea of Word’s full potential.

I have tried my best to create an accurate, no-nonsense reference that covers not only how to accomplish various tasks, but also why you might want to accomplish them.

Organization of This Book

Word 2000 in a Nutshell is structured in three parts.

Part I

Part I is an overview of the interface and a look into the inner workings of Word. It is intended to give the reader a solid understanding of Word’s basic dynamics.

Chapter 1 is a quick reference ...