Word 2013 Bible

CHAPTER 29

Keyboard Customization

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Using shortcuts to assign shortcut keys
• Understanding shortcut keys and templates
• Advanced methods for finding commands
• Assigning shortcut keys to styles, symbols, and macros

To a Word power user, one of the most amazing pieces of Word trivia is that most users don't take advantage of the option to customize Word's keyboard. A power user knows that there's no need to drill down through multiple layers of choices from the Ribbon to choose a command or option that could easily be assigned to a simple keystroke.

Using the mouse may be more intuitive for many people, but it can actually slow a fast typist down. As your fingers fly along, it takes less time to add in a shortcut key combination than it is to move your hand off the keyboard, move the mouse around, and then return to the keyboard. If you possess good keyboard skills, creating your own keyboard shortcuts makes sense and can help you stay efficient. This chapter shows you how to take greater command of Word through the keyboard.

Understanding Customization Boundaries

The first thing you need to know when you consider customizing your keyboard is that Word effectively does not reserve any keys for particular commands. Unlike a lot of programs, in which you have no choice or little choice about what keystrokes you can assign to which commands, in Word your options are wide open. If you would rather that Ctrl+H be used to highlight selected text (yellow marker style) than ...