MS Word

[Zeb_Carter]

I type faster than my scanner works. Thank god for typing in 7th grade. (Manual typewriter and all.)

Then, what, you type a 1,000 words a minute?

My scanner, which is part of my printer that only cost $39, scans in about the same time it takes to lift the cover and place the item I want scanned on the glass.

 

[Handley_Page]

I have found that spell check is just fine, although you have to double check with a dictionary when you use words that Word has never seen before.

As for the grammar checker, it's mainly aligned to business use, but if you turn the style checker it's fine.

I don't use the thesaurus, I already know what words I want to use. If I run in to some word I need another word for due to repetitiveness, I use Thesaurus.com. It's only a click away.

Would you please explain that in some detail ?
Even in a PM.
Word 97, of blessed memory, had the ability to change the general style of the document; Casual, Business, Legal, etc., a feature I cannot find on v2003.
I even bought a book about using v2003 but it was almost a written version of the help file which is no help at all, most of the time.
If I try and look up 'style' I get a load of nonsense from Redmond (or rather, Basingstoke), about type style (founts, etc).
So if I have missed something, please tell me.
thanks

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Would you please explain that in some detail ?
Even in a PM.
Word 97, of blessed memory, had the ability to change the general style of the document; Casual, Business, Legal, etc., a feature I cannot find on v2003.
I even bought a book about using v2003 but it was almost a written version of the help file which is no help at all, most of the time.
If I try and look up 'style' I get a load of nonsense from Redmond (or rather, Basingstoke), about type style (founts, etc).
So if I have missed something, please tell me.
thanks

If you go to tools>options a dialog box will display. Click on the tab Spelling & Grammar. In the Grammar section click on the settings button. In the window that displays, uncheck all the boxes in the style section.

As for the other style...

Click on Format>Theme. In the dialog box click on the Style Gallery button, you will be presented with a list of Style types.

 

[StrangeLife]

Hell there's always paper and pencil.

Actually it's not even that far fetched. Or you could limit yourself to do it orally..

 

[Handley_Page]

If you go to tools>options a dialog box will display. Click on the tab Spelling & Grammar. In the Grammar section click on the settings button. In the window that displays, uncheck all the boxes in the style section.

As for the other style...

Click on Format>Theme. In the dialog box click on the Style Gallery button, you will be presented with a list of Style types.

Ah, a snag.

Tools, Spelling & Grammar, [F7] has no sub-menus. It's a "go do it" button.
Theme seems to be all on-page effects, such as page colour and style of fount.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Ah, a snag.

Tools, Spelling & Grammar, [F7] has no sub-menus. It's a "go do it" button.
Theme seems to be all on-page effects, such as page colour and style of fount.

I repeat...

If you go to tools>options a dialog box will display. Click on the tab Spelling & Grammar. In the Grammar section click on the settings button. In the window that displays, uncheck all the boxes in the style section.

As for the other style...

Click on Format>Theme. In the dialog box click on the Style Gallery button at the bottom of the window, you will be presented with a list of Style types.

 

[Handley_Page]

I repeat...

If you go to tools>options a dialog box will display. Click on the tab Spelling & Grammar. In the Grammar section click on the settings button. In the window that displays, uncheck all the boxes in the style section.

As for the other style...

Click on Format>Theme. In the dialog box click on the Style Gallery button at the bottom of the window, you will be presented with a list of Style types.

Many thanks.
Now why can't the manual do it like that.
All I have to do now is find my original; disk to install some templates.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Many thanks.
Now why can't the manual do it like that.
All I have to do now is find my original; disk to install some templates.

No problem, glad to help.

I always thought manuals lacked the needed examples during my career as a software engineer. I tried to talk the tech-writers into including more of them, but they assured me they explained everything quite well. Of course tech-writers never heard about how a picture is worth a thousand words as their job was to write the thousand words.

 

[Tyro999]

Now why can't the manual do it like that.

It wasn't included in the manuals destined for the UK. M$ felt that you Brits knew all there was to know about English grammar and spelling and therefore wouldn't need it.

 

[Handley_Page]

No problem, glad to help.

I always thought manuals lacked the needed examples during my career as a software engineer. I tried to talk the tech-writers into including more of them, but they assured me they explained everything quite well. Of course tech-writers never heard about how a picture is worth a thousand words as their job was to write the thousand words.

I used to write technical manuals and always included loads of illustrations. That said, I preferred to document hardware not software, but I did have some fun on one system. I laid it out like the Menu structure.

It wasn't included in the manuals destined for the UK. M$ felt that you Brits knew all there was to know about English grammar and spelling and therefore wouldn't need it.

To judge by the standards of the modern Brit youth, I'd say it was time to go back to basics!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I used to write technical manuals and always included loads of illustrations. That said, I preferred to document hardware not software, but I did have some fun on one system. I laid it out like the Menu structure.




To judge by the standards of the modern Brit youth, I'd say it was time to go back to basics!

This is true of American youth as well. None of them really know how to spell, except text speak and grammar, well I'm not an expert on grammar, but when a person can't even speak in complete sentences, something is wrong.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Other word processors

Some interesting discussion of other word-processing options here: http://www.autostraddle.com/queer-your-tech-with-fun-word-processors-that-arent-made-by-microsoft/

I like the sound of the one that gives you a picture of a kitten for every 100 words

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Some interesting discussion of other word-processing options here: http://www.autostraddle.com/queer-your-tech-with-fun-word-processors-that-arent-made-by-microsoft/

I like the sound of the one that gives you a picture of a kitten for every 100 words

Yeah, kittens. No thank you. The first thing I did with word was to turn off that annoying paper clip dude.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

That's why I love Pages (Mac office) so much.

I hate it so much when a screen looks cluttered. Whenever I write a school paper on Microsoft word, those little jagged green and red lines pop up everywhere. Little blue click-decals wherever MS thought they should correct me or capitalize my word.

Also, the words always look out of place, and I can see the pixels in the letters. There are varying spaces between letters, and the grammar lines are a goddamn joke.

So Pages doesn't have grammar lines, or autocorrect. The spell check lines are neat (not jagged) the letters are evenly spaced and clean-looking. The toolbar is built in and intuitive, the naming and retrieving system is easy.

I know that you can customize word, but you can never customize the clean look of pages

http://www.powershell.nu/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/word-05.jpg

Vs this


http://cdn.appstorm.net/mac.appstorm.net/mac/files/2013/10/Pages-Setup.png

 

[Zeb_Carter]

That's why I love Pages (Mac office) so much.

I hate it so much when a screen looks cluttered. Whenever I write a school paper on Microsoft word, those little jagged green and red lines pop up everywhere. Little blue click-decals wherever MS thought they should correct me or capitalize my word.

Also, the words always look out of place, and I can see the pixels in the letters. There are varying spaces between letters, and the grammar lines are a goddamn joke.

So Pages doesn't have grammar lines, or autocorrect. The spell check lines are neat (not jagged) the letters are evenly spaced and clean-looking. The toolbar is built in and intuitive, the naming and retrieving system is easy.

I know that you can customize word, but you can never customize the clean look of pages

http://www.powershell.nu/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/word-05.jpg

Vs this


http://cdn.appstorm.net/mac.appstorm.net/mac/files/2013/10/Pages-Setup.png

Gee, it would have been nice in the second example if there had been some misspelled words so we could compare the underlining in each.

But, after several tests, in different word processors for windows, all use the what you call jagged lines. Even the spell check in Chrome displays the squiggly lines under misspelled words.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Gee, it would have been nice in the second example if there had been some misspelled words so we could compare the underlining in each.

But, after several tests, in different word processors for windows, all use the what you call jagged lines. Even the spell check in Chrome displays the squiggly lines under misspelled words.

Pages uses a straight dashed line for spelling errors, rather than the zig-zag in Word. (Though TBH, I wouldn't have noticed the difference if I hadn't been looking for it. And Firefox has dotted lines.)

 

[Cruel2BKind]

Gee, it would have been nice in the second example if there had been some misspelled words so we could compare the underlining in each.

But, after several tests, in different word processors for windows, all use the what you call jagged lines. Even the spell check in Chrome displays the squiggly lines under misspelled words.

This is on an ipad, but the line is the same.


http://images.macworld.com/images/opinion/graphics/151030-ipad-spellcheck_original.png

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Pages uses a straight dashed line for spelling errors, rather than the zig-zag in Word. (Though TBH, I wouldn't have noticed the difference if I hadn't been looking for it. And Firefox has dotted lines.)

Every program in windows, that I have on my machine, which is an extensive collection, used the squiggly line method to alert you to a misspelled word. So, it might be a windows standard. So it would carry over to an Apple with Word.

As for the difference between a dashed line or a squiggly line both are/would be annoying.

 

[patientlee]

Then, what, you type a 1,000 words a minute?

My scanner, which is part of my printer that only cost $39, scans in about the same time it takes to lift the cover and place the item I want scanned on the glass.

My scanner is a piece of shit. I get frustrated and quit after half an hour.

I actually like to type. I make a lot of changes from the written drafts.

(Don't get me started on the photocopier at work. That thing jams when I walk into the room.)

 

[Zeb_Carter]

My scanner is a piece of shit. I get frustrated and quit after half an hour.

I actually like to type. I make a lot of changes from the written drafts.

(Don't get me started on the photocopier at work. That thing jams when I walk into the room.)

I'm surprised your computer works.

 

[patientlee]

I'm surprised your computer works.

Haha. I have painted a very distorted picture of myself.

The only paper I use is my graph paper tablets. I use them to take notes, write stories, make shopping lists, plan lessons, design web pages, journal, and anything else I don't share with anyone. I don't throw them away, and I usually have a pretty good idea which tablet unfinished work is in. It's a little compulsive.

The rest of my life is paperless. I print nothing. My students submit everything electronically whether they like it or not. At my desk at work, I use two laptops (one hooked to a Promethean board where I write notes on my Bamboo tablet) and an iPad. My kids call it the command center. Some days I write notes on my iPad and use the projector with Apple TV. Depends on my mood. I also have a Blue Snowball microphone, although that isn't getting much use now that I use Explain Everything on the iPad to make videos.

It's just the printer, scanner, copier that I avoid.

Actually, I do use the Genius Scan app on my phone for a lot of projects. It does a lousy job on smudged pencil on graph paper though. I tried replacing my tablets with the Note Taker HD app on the iPad. The feel of the stylus on the screen didn't do it for me. (Compulsive and crazy, I know.)

I hope I've cleared up the confusion!

(My MS is in Educational Technology. I'm smarter than I look! )