Tame your computer - with a quick change trick

In her regular series for Cambridge Network members - now in its 15th year - software training expert Karen Roem offers handy tips to help you 'Tame your computer'. This week she describes how to edit your document while previewing it (Microsoft Word).

Roem tip time logo

It feels like everyone is on holiday or celebrating some sort of staycation!  So I considered skipping a week, but instead I thought I’d dust off a tip from the archive … Make changes to your Word document from Print Preview.

If you spot a mistake in Print Preview and wish you could make changes without leaving Print Preview and finding the relevant page, simply add the Print Preview Edit Mode button to your Quick Access Toolbar.

Here's how:

  1. Right-click anywhere on the Quick Access Toolbar and click Customize Quick Access Toolbar.

  2. In the Choose commands from drop-down list, select All Commands.

  3. Scroll down and double-click Print Preview Edit Mode.

  4. If you want, move the button up. (As you can see below I’ve moved mine almost to the top. It’s the second one.)

[[{"fid":"294573","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"customize quick access dialogue box","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"customize quick access dialogue box"},"link_text":false,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"customize quick access dialogue box","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"customize quick access dialogue box"}},"attributes":{"alt":"customize quick access dialogue box","title":"customize quick access dialogue box","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]

5. Click OK

In future, click the Print Preview Edit Mode button on your Quick Access Toolbar to get the old Print Preview ribbon like it was in version 2007.

[[{"fid":"294574","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Print preview ribbon","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Print preview ribbon"},"link_text":false,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Print preview ribbon","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Print preview ribbon"}},"attributes":{"alt":"Print preview ribbon","title":"Print preview ribbon","style":"height: 140px; width: 700px;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"2"}}]]

For those of you who aren’t old enough  and don’t know what the fuss is about … simply uncheck the Magnifier tick box on the ribbon and you can make changes to the document.

Related tips

This tip is written for Microsoft 365 desktop apps and Windows 10 users, but might also be useful in Office 2010, 2013 and 2016. I meticulously test every tip I write to make sure it is correct, easy to understand and time-saving. Let me know if something isn't clear or doesn't work.

PS To help you put these tips into practice I have developed a series of 60-minute webinars, giving you the opportunity to see the hints, tips and time-saving shortcuts in action; GBP24 only.

9 August 2021

Karen Roem offers software training and support through her company Roem Ltd.  Contact her by email (Karen@roem.co.uk) or visit her website at www.roem.co.uk



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