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Here I make recommendations on Word’s settings. If I do not list a specific setting, it means that I believe you should make your own choice or leave it set to the default setting. In no way does the omission of the setting mean that the setting itself is not important.
Tab | Option | Setting | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
View | Highlight | Checked | Shows text that has been marked with the Highlight feature. |
View | Bookmarks | Unchecked | Check this option if you develop templates and other documents. |
View | Status Bar | Checked | There are often important messages in the status bar that you shouldn’t miss. |
View | Field codes | Unchecked | Turn this on when you’re trying to see what’s behind your field codes. Alt+F9 toggles this off and on for you. |
View | Field shading | Always | We prefer to have this set to Always. When working in forms using the Forms toolbar, this makes it much easier to follow what you’re doing. |
View | Formatting Marks | All | When you have the Show/Hide button turned on, it shows the nonprinting characters that are checkmarked. Because we always suggest having the Show/Hide button on, All should be selected. |
General | Background Pagination | Checked | Because we recommend using Page Layout or Print Layout as your view, this must be turned on. |
General | Confirm Conversion at Open | Checked | If you never work with other document types except Word, there is no need to turn this on. |
General | Auto-create drawing canvas | Unchecked | I don’t see the point. |
Edit | [all] | Default | Use the default settings or set as desired. I’m not crazy about smart tags and tracking formatting. |
| Background Printing | Unchecked | In some versions, this is the reason that the Page X of Y feature doesn’t provide proper sequential numbering. |
Save | Allow Fast Saves | Unchecked | This actually saves your file in small pieces that you’ve edited, as opposed to saving your entire document. It’s also the reason you may see many temporary files while you work in a single document. |
Save | Prompt to Save Normal template | As desired | Word macro viruses may attach themselves to your normal.dot template. Checking this setting may alert you to the fact that you have a macro virus. However, this method generally is unreliable because you’ll get the prompt for many, many other reasons. Always use an updated Antivirus program so you don’t need to count on settings like this. |
User Info | [All] | Complete these fields | Among other things, when you request a return address on an envelope, it uses this data. |
Compatibility Options | [All] | [All] | You should review these so that you can become aware of the many settings available. Generally, the default settings are fine, but some desktop publishers will appreciate the ability to choose some of the settings. |
File Locations | [All] | [All] | Again, change as desired, but you should be aware of these settings. |
Security | [All] | [All] | This tab is new in XP/2002, and contains options that we could not previously set. You should become familiar with them. |
Spelling & Grammar | [All] | [All] | As desired. |
Tracked Changes | [All] | [All] | As desired. |
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