Posted by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 11/11/08 2:18pm
Msg #269452

Query on Word function

Older versions of Word, from 15-20 years ago, had a highlighting function that I have been unable to find in the more recent versions. As I recall, you could right-click on text, drag down, and it would highlight everything to the left of the cursor. Text to the right of the cursor would remain unhighlighted.

Does anyone have any idea whether that function has been retained in current versions, and, if so, how to use it?

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 11/11/08 2:21pm
Msg #269453

I should have used "select" rather than "highlight."

Reply by parkerc/ME on 11/11/08 3:18pm
Msg #269456

I've got Word 2003. If I left click and drag down, it will highlight everything in between. If I want to keep a highlight in print, I click on the "Highlight" icon in the tool bar and select a color to highlight with.

Reply by PAW on 11/11/08 3:39pm
Msg #269458

Hold the ALT key down ...

... and the LEFT mouse button at the same time. Move (drag) down or up and to the left or right. All text in the "block" will be selected (highlighted).

Reply by Lee/AR on 11/11/08 3:43pm
Msg #269460

Works w/Word 2007, too. Neat trick, but

I'm trying to think of circumstances when you'd need it. Must be some or Hugh wouldn't want to know.

Reply by parkerc/ME on 11/11/08 3:55pm
Msg #269461

Re: Works w/Word 2007, too. Neat trick, but

That's a new one for me. Agree, neat trick. Wonder if you could use it to highlight colums in a table?

Reply by parkerc/ME on 11/11/08 3:56pm
Msg #269462

Re: Works w/Word 2007, too. Neat trick, but

(or to learn how to spell "columns"!!)

Reply by parkerc/ME on 11/11/08 3:58pm
Msg #269463

Re: Works w/Word 2007, too. Neat trick, but

Forget the columns thing . . . don't need it to highlight a column. Probably something we'll discover a use for, not use it much, then promptly forget how to do it!

Reply by PAW on 11/11/08 4:52pm
Msg #269465

Re: Works w/Word 2007, too. Neat trick, but

Works great when "columns" are present, but not Word columns. That is, just appears to be columnar by proper spacing. Especially in lists like:

This is columnA stuff ------------ This is columnB stuff
aldnasd snfdfj fdjkf akdkd ---- adnfndf adfnsdfn nfadsflja
akjdflk dsfja sdflkjf ldflkj -------- alsjf jflfoierlkneo nhv ien
sosdfj sfoflzbvnhdl hsdf --------- asldkf sdfjk sf sdf sdf f sdf

(Had to use dashes because the NotRot posting editor strips out multiple spaces between items.)

Reply by MikeC/NY on 11/11/08 7:36pm
Msg #269480

Re: Works w/Word 2007, too. Neat trick, but

Haven't tried this yet - are the "columns" delimited by spaces or tabs? My guess is tabs, because spaces can be inconsistent from one line to the next....

As Zee said, this can all be avoided by using tables... but heck, if you're gonna do that you might as well just learn to use Excel - it's not rocket science.

As an aside, in my previous incarnation as a corporate financial IT guy I knew a lot of folks in Accounting who only knew how to use Excel and ended up using it as a word processor for memos and such. When all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail...

Reply by PAW on 11/11/08 8:26pm
Msg #269481

Re: Works w/Word 2007, too. Neat trick, but

I agree that most "columnar tables" that aren't formatted as columns or tables, probably are tabbed text. And yes, the 'trick' works even in tabbed text.

The point is, that as a _recipient_ of a Word document, you're at a disadvantage because you aren't able to properly prepare the content in columns or tables. That's when the 'trick' is needed to capture the data.

Reply by ZeeCA on 11/11/08 5:41pm
Msg #269467

Do you mean if you have word table? You CAN highlight

the column.... You just position your mouse at the top of the column you want to highlight and than click and the column highlights (works in excel also)

if you want a row just point at the row edge you want to highlight....

I use this all the time to minimize a search to just one area...

Reply by PAW on 11/11/08 8:29pm
Msg #269482

Re: Do you mean if you have word table? You CAN highlight

No, not tables. Many people don't even use more than 8% of the power of Word (a percentage that was quoted at a Microsoft TechEd conference that I attended a few years back), much less create tables, columns, or use fields, autotext, macros, etc.

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 11/11/08 5:10pm
Msg #269466

Re: Hold the ALT key down ...

Thanks, PAW. That's exactly what I was looking for.

In response to Lee's puzzlement: I've never learned to use Excel, so I keep my books in Word, and use colored text to indicate status: Red = uncollected, green uncollectable, etc. As PAW noted, the text is in columns, though not formatted as columns. Makes it a lot easier if I can select an entire column-not-formatted-as-a-column at one time.

This site is a fount of valuable nuggets. Now, if someone could just direct me to a 12-oz non-caloric prime rib, I'd be most happy.

Reply by parkerc/ME on 11/11/08 5:53pm
Msg #269468

Re: Hold the ALT key down ...

Aha!! I think I understand now, Hugh. You're doing "columns" by using the tab keys. Well, I do that a lot too, so the Alt-right click thing will come in handy after all. So much nifty info gleaned on this forum!

As far as "Now, if someone could just direct me to a 12-oz non-caloric prime rib, I'd be most happy." Well, Hugh, we can direct you to it . . ya' just can't eat it!! Or . . Hmmm. . the key word is "rib" . . . just gnaw on it and not the meat and maybe that will be calorie-free. LOL

Reply by PAW on 11/11/08 8:41pm
Msg #269484

Hold the ALT key down plus LEFT CLICK

not "the Alt-right click thing". (I don't think that really does anything.)

Reply by LynnNC on 11/12/08 9:16am
Msg #269504

Another Word Question

We want to make a sign to put at the Vet's office to give two kittens away. How do you make a row of phone numbers rotated at the bottom so people can tear one off?

Reply by Lee/AR on 11/12/08 10:08am
Msg #269514

Re: Another Word Question

MicroSoft Publisher has a template for what you want (& a whole world of other things). This is not the Word program.

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 11/12/08 10:37am
Msg #269518

Re: Another Word Question

You can create a text box under "insert," then verticalize (to create a word) it under "format text direction" that should work.