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Often, when you upgrade to a newer version of a product, you instantly fall
in love. The new features simply click. That happened to me the first day I
installed Word for Windows 1.0. WordBasic, especially, was a Word user's dream-come-true.
Similarly, the ability to easily customize the keyboard was what finally convinced
me to make the move from XyWrite to Word, as my mainstay word processor.
With each new version of Word, there've been some things I like better than
in the older version. At the same time, however, there's usually something I
miss. The biggest "gee I wish it hadn't changed" for me was the move
from WordBasic to VBA. While I can eventually flail around and get stuff done
in VBA, WordBasic (for me, anyway) was so much more natural, and a lot easier. Alas,
except for a handful of WordBasic commands that continued to work (fewer with
each new version), there was no going back.
For some things, however, yesterday lives, and you can go home again, even
if only for a while (there's no telling if they'll survive to the next release).
The purpose of this article is to show you ways that the old gray mare is what
she used to be, and which barn she's hiding in, as we explore the move from
Word 2000 to Word 2002.
Mail Merge Helper
There used to be a Mail Merge Helper button on the Mail Merge toolbar. It was
also the default action when you chose Mail Merge from the Tool
menu. Now, you have to choose Tools/Letters and Mailing/Mail Merge Wizard,
and you get the Mail Merge Task Pane instead. But, take heart. If you
prefer the old ways, they are still available. Choose Tools/Customize/Commands.
Set categories to All Commands, and set Commands to MailMergeHelper.
Drag the tool to the Mail Merge toolbar. Or, if you want it on the menu, where
it used to be, drag it to the Tools menu. Click Close in the Customize
toolbar.
Style Dialog Box
Some Word veterans are more comfortable with the old Style dialog box. While
I really think you'll enjoy the Styles and Formatting task pane (once you get
use to it), there are times I prefer the old dialog box as well. Here's how
to get it back. Choose Tools/Customize/Commands. Set categories to All
Commands, and set Commands to FormatStyle. Drag to the command
to the Format Menu, then click Close on the Customize dialog.
Style Gallery
Remember the Style Gallery? It was a handy way to play what-if games
to quickly see what a given document would look like if formatted using any
given template. To seize yesterday: choose Tools/Customize/Commands.
Set Categories to All Commands, and set Commands to FormatStyleGallery.
Drag it to the Format menu. Click Close on the Customize dialog.
Envelopes and Labels
With each new version of Word, the interface designers seemingly want us to
jump through more and more hoops. To reduce the hoop count by one, move the
Envelopes and Labels command back into the main Tools menu: choose Tools/Customize/Commands.
On the menu choose Tools/Letters and Mailings, and click the arrow to
expose the submenu. Hold down the Ctrl key and drag the Envelopes
and Labels item to the desired location onto the main tools menu. Click
Close from the Customize dialog box.
Note! Pressing Ctrl makes this action a Copy instead of a Move.
If you'd rather simply move the command to its Word 2000 location, don't press
the Ctrl key.
Clipboard Toolbar
The Clipboard toolbar is gone. But, the functionality is still there (somewhat),
although it now consumes more screen real estate (which can be a pain, even
though the new form is a Pane). Choose View/Task Pane and use
the dropdown arrow to choose Clipboard.
Style Organizer
Remember yesteryear when you could access the Organizer by clicking the
Organizer button at the bottom of the Styles dialog box? Well, it's still there.
However, if you prefer the Styles and Formatting task pane, there is no way
to get to the Organizer. The only built-in way to it in Word 2002 is via Tools/Templates
and Add-ins/Organizer button.
If you'd like to have Organizer available a little more directly, then choose
Tools/Customize/Commands. Set categories to All Commands, and
set Commands to Organizer. Now, drag Organizer to the desired
location, e.g., to the Format menu or to a toolbar. Close the Customize
dialog box.
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