Associate a printer with a Word document - Word has no mechanism to store the printer name associated with a particular document. This page offers a workaround by storing the printer information in the document's properties and choosing the information stored there to print the document.

Automatically backup Word documents -  Contrary to popular opinion, Word has no integral means of automatically saving the current document, nor of backing-up the current document. The implications and work-arounds are explained here.

Automatically number Word documents - A macro to provide automatic document numbering from a user number stored in the Windows registry.

Avoiding unwanted auto-capitalization - Word is configured by default to auto-capitalize the beginnings of sentences. This is not always what is required. Checkout a few workarounds, including a simple use of autocorrect, suggested by Cheryl Flanders in the Word newsgroups.

Change the appearance of Word envelopes -  Envelope layouts provide hours of fun, if you don't know their secrets. The page includes setup instructions for Word 2007 and for setting up a document to use window envelopes.

Check for uncompleted form fields - It is not unreasonable when preparing on-line forms using the forms toolbar that you require the user to actually complete the fields that you have included. There is no function in the field properties to force this requirement, but you can do so with the aid of a few small macros. To this end I have to thank Peter Hewett, a regular Word newsgroup contributor, for developing the code featured here.

Clear recently used file list -  Word provides no direct method of deleting the contents of the recently used file list. This macro will do the trick.

Copy selected text to a new document - Word does not provide any obvious way of saving selected text to a new document, but, as usual, there are ways around this.

Correct envelope orientation issues with Epson Inkjets - Word has no idea what the correct envelope orientation is for Epson inkjet printers. Here are a couple of fixes you could try to concentrate its mind.

Create a fraction - How to create a fraction in Word, when the required fraction font character is not available.

Create Outlook Entries From Word -  Example macros demonstrating how to add Word data into Outlook. The examples cover adding appointments from a list of appointments, adding a task reminder and adding a contact from an address contained in a document.

Custom label definitions - How to backup or move your custom label definitions to another PC.

Customize the Word 2000/2003 File Operations Places Bar -  In the file operations windows (File > Open; File > Save) Word offers a pre-configured Places Bar with five places where you might want to store documents. These places can be personalized, and by reducing the size of the icons, increased. Thus, for example, you might wish to add the documents folder on a local networked laptop; or, if you make frequent edits to templates, your templates folder

Duplex merge data for postcards - Mail merge to postcard (and business card) label formats is complex, if you wish to merge to both sides of the label. This page, and the accompanying add-in, explains one method by which duplex merges can be achieved.

Export field constructions to text -  If you have ever had to document complex field constructions in a text file, you will know how difficult it can be. This page reveals how it can be done using a macro solution.

Extract data from a collection of similar documents - A question in a newsgroup forum, in which the person wanted to extract a a couple of lines of data from a series of similar letters, prompted this page, which demonstrates a method of batch extraction to a data table document.

Extract data from an e-mailed message of attachment - Based on a personal requirement to extract data from an e-mailed message, received on a daily basis, to a Word report, this page shows the macro code required to perform the task from both Outlook and Word. I have added code to demonstrate how to save attachments from particular e-mailed messages to the hard drive for further processing in Word.

Extract data from protected forms - Another newsgroup question raised the question of extracting data from a collection of completed Word forms, for use in a spreadsheet. This page shows how to use a Word macro to create a comma delimited file from a number of similar form documents.

Extract images from a Word document -   Once an image is included in a Word document (as opposed to being linked to it), it becomes part of that document and there is no way of extracting that image for re-use, while it remains part of that document. You can, however, save the image as a web page, which will separate the component parts out of the document as files.

File converter dialog shows garbage when opening documents in Word 2000-2003 - A growing number of users has found that when they try to open documents received by e-mail etc., they are presented with a dialog box containing garbage. This page provides one explanation and tips to correct it and avoid it in future.

Follow-on footer text (catchwords) - A method of adding the words that start each page to the footer of the previous pages, for which Word has no in-built solution.

Globally replace text with autotext entry - A method of replacing indicated text in a document with unusually formatted text, using the autotext function to provide the replacement text formatting.

How do I use text as a bullet? - Bullet characters in Word are normally single characters, configurable from the format > bullets and numbering dialog; but what if you wish to use a standard block of text as a bullet?

Idiots' guide to installing macros from newsgroup listings -   Elsewhere in this web site, and certainly in the Microsoft Word newsgroups you may be offered macro listings. Here you'll find a simple guide' to installing and using such macros in Word.

Individual merged letters -   If you merge a form letter to a new document, Word will create a single document containing as many individual letters as you have records. It is possible to print individual letters, or you can split the document.

Insert a date selected from a pop-up calendar - When inserting dates, especially into form fields, the ability to pick the required date from a calendar is useful. This page explains how to do that using a Word vba userform.

Insert a future (or past) date in a Word document - It is a simple matter to insert the current date in a Word document, but calculated dates are not so straightforward. This flexible macro will help.

Insert document file based on the content of a dropdown form field - Choose which document to insert into a form.

Insert logos /graphics on business cards and mailing labels -  Graphics and watermarks can be a tad complicated to insert on labels, but whether you are preparing a single label, a page of labels, or a mail merge, it can be done. This page covers the issue  of using the same graphic in each label, for a different graphic on each label, see also Mail Merge Graphics.

Lose that unwanted Adobe Acrobat toolbar - Many people find Adobe's Acrobat toolbar irritating, but there's no obvious way of removing it. Fellow MVPs, Klaus Linke, with whom I developed the Wildcard tutorial, and Steve Rindsberg have come up with a plan.

Lost changes to Outlook document attachments - If you edit e-mailed Word documents directly from document attachments any changes you make are lost when you close the document. It may be possible to recover those changes. This page shows you how.

Mail merge - Convert a pre-typed label document into a data file -  Before discovering the pleasures of mail merge, it is not unreasonable to type addresses into mailing labels. This is however difficult difficult to manage and the benefits of mail merge quickly become apparent - but maybe not if you have to retype all those addresses.

Mail merge - Outlook as a database -   Outlook is a superb data source for your mail merged letters, envelopes etc., but Microsoft has all but hidden the tools required to release the power of this resource.

Mail merge graphics -  There are many applications where it may be required to merge an image into a mail merge, based upon the content of the data file. e.g. in merge letters, you may wish to include a signature; in a catalogue you may wish to merge pictures of the items; or you may wish to produce ID badges with photos of the intended wearers, etc.

Mail merge with Office XP & 2003 - The great Christmas card debacle of 2002 demonstrated for many people what a dog's breakfast Microsoft have made of what was a relatively simple procedure in Word 97/2000 …. the Word 2002/3 mail merge to mailing labels. This will help restore some sanity to the task.

Mail merge with Office 2007 - An update to the above showing how mail merge has been changed in Word 2007. While concentrating on label merges as these involve more steps, this and the Office XP & 2003 page provide information about mail merges in general.

Maintain Autotext Entries From A Word Table - Until Microsoft changed the way autotext entries worked with Word 2007, autotext entries were a very convenient means of entering frequently used texts etc., into a document. Maintaining a list of personal entries (over and above the default entries) is fairly straightforward, but only one at a time. This page demonstrates a method whereby entries can be stored in a table in a Word document, where they can easily be edited and transferred between users.

Make templates available to multiple users? - Where to store workgroup templates and add-ins.

Multiple mail merge entries in the tools menu - Many users have complained that the mail merge entry in the Word tools menu is repeated uncontrollably. This is due to a bug in the Works add-in. This page explains how to deal with it.

My toolbars are missing! - The most common complaint in the Word newsgroups, but easy to fix. Though this is well documented elsewhere, it will not hurt to repeat the fix here.

Negative numbers in calculations  - Word does not handle negative numbers correctly in field calculations. Here are a few workarounds.

Numbers on labels - Use mail merge to produce labels with incrementing numbers.

Office 2003 Proofing Tools May Be Used With Office 2007 - Additional proofing dictionaries are available for Office 2007 on an individual basis, but if you have the Office 2003 proofing tools set, these can still be used with Office 2007. The proofing tools are adopted by 2007 on upgrading Office 2003, but they can be installed subsequently. This page shows how.

Page header has disappeared - It is all too easy to apparently lose the page header area, especially in Word 2003. This page explains the mechanisms involved and how to correct it.

Print multiple copies of each page of a document - Recent versions of Word provide a 'zoom' tool in the printer dialog box, which enables several pages of a document to be printed on a single sheet, but what if you want multiple copies of each page?.

Print to a specific printer - Word normally prints to the Windows default printer (which must be present in order to format the document correctly) but you can force Word to print to a specific printer (or printer driver - which would include Fax drivers) by means of a simple macro.

Problems opening Word 2007 docx format in earlier versions - Despite the availability of a compatibility pack, some users are experiencing difficulties opening docx format files in earlier Word versions. This is attributable to new features available to docx format from Word 2007 templates. Despite the apparent problem, the documents should be capable of being opened. This page explains the process.

Quick toolbar access - Toolbars take up valuable screen space, particularly on small screens and laptops. Here's a handy method to toggle the most frequently used bars on or off.

Replace text in a batch of files - MVP Doug Robbins and newsgroup contributor Peter Hewett have developed a handy vba macro for the replacement of text in a batch of Word documents, no matter where in the document the text appears.

Remove Word Passwords - When you password protect a document against opening, then that document is encrypted and you will not be able to open it without the original password. Password protection for forms is less secure and can easily be removed to enable a form to be edited.

Rotate or invert text in a text box -  Word has no built-in function to invert text, to rotate it by 180 degrees or produce mirror imaged text. Standard Windows tools come to the rescue.

Save numbered versions -  of any document. A macro to save numbered and dated versions of any document.

Scan into Word 2007 - The facility to scan images directly into Word 2007 isn't dead - it is only sleeping. This page shows how to wake it.

Special formats for Word fields - Word provides the means to format the contents of fields inserted into the document. Here are a couple tips are intended to cover some of the less obvious issues.

Stop dates from automatically updating - A pair of Word macros to stop dates in the currently open document or template (or a batch of documents or templates) from automatically updating.

Tablet PC Propagate Labels Problem - Word has a problem with propagating labels as part of the mail merge process, when used on a Tablet PC. With Word 2007, it appears the problem may not be limited to Tablet PCs. This link offers a vba solution to that problem

Text to speech in Microsoft Word - Enable Word to read your documents to you.

Toolbars in Word 2007 - Word 2007 has abandoned the familiar Word toolbars in favour of 'the Ribbon' and a Quick Access Toolbat (QAT), but for those who miss their toolbars, all is not lost. They can be made available to Word 2007, if you plan ahead, or you still have an earlier version of Word installed. This page shows how to make those toolbar commands available and also how to run Word 2007 on the same platform, at the same time, without conflict.

Using {Macrobutton} fields to insert data - The macrobutton field can be used as a text marker within a template, or, as the name implies, be used to run a macro. This example demonstrates the use of the field to provide check boxes and to insert names and addresses from Outlook. While not strictly relevant to macrobutton fields, the page also includes example code for writing addressee information to Outlook Contacts collected from a typed letter.

Using alternative return addresses on envelopes - The return address on an envelope, when chosen, is picked up from the User Information under tools > options. You can only enter one address here, but many people use the same copy of Word to prepare letters (with return addresses) for various organizations, which precludes the use of the envelope wizard to add the return address - unless you feel the inclination to re-enter the user information for each - or does it?

Using wildcards in the find & replace tool - Essentially a revised version of the similar article I produced for the Word MVPS web site.

What are those strange ruler units? - Sometimes Word 2002/3 pops up with strange units of measurement which clutter the ruler with tiny divisions that bear no relationship to the preferred measurements set in tools > options > general. These are Character Units. How do I set my preferred measurements?

When Word crashes - Such is the nature of the beast that sooner or later Word will crash. Files left behind can prevent Word from operating correctly. Check out what needs to be corrected.

Where are my fonts? - What to do when Word does not display all the available fonts installed in Windows.

Word cannot import Adobe PDF files, but... This page describes a workaround that essentially achieves the same ends.