Francis Marion University MS Word Tutorial

What is MS Word?

MS Word is a component of Microsoft Office. Word is a computer program designed for word processing.   Word processing programs are used to help you create, edit, and save your documents.

Getting Started with Word

You will need a 3 1/2” formatted diskette before you can begin working with Word at Francis Marion University.  The Patriot Bookstore on campus sells 3 1/2” diskettes.

From Stanton Academic Computer Center:

                After Window starts, double click (with the mouse) on the Microsoft Word Icon. 

                Please put your 3 1/2” diskette into the computer. 

Creating a document

You are now ready to begin typing your document.  Once you start typing a paragraph, do not press enter until you have reached the end of the paragraph.  MS Word has automatic word wrap, so that if a word will not fit on a line it will be placed on the next line.

Note:  You may see a screen for the tip of the day when you first start Word.  Please click on OK to be able to start typing your document.

Try  typing the following example.  Type what is in bold.  When you see <ENTER>  please press the Enter Key.

Authorized as a state-supported institution of higher learning by the State of South Carolina on June 25, 1969, Francis Marion College was officially established on July 1, 1970.  Named in honor of  South Carolina’s Revolutionary War hero General Francis Marion, the institution is governed by the Board of Trustees.  The College became Francis Marion University in 1992.     <ENTER>

<ENTER>

The College began its first academic term with students from 23 of South Carolina’s 46 counties gathered on August 31, 1970, for the first Fall Convocation and Orientation.   <ENTER>

Saving your document for the first time

To save your document,

                Click on File

                Click on  Save

                Now a new window appears, called a dialog box.

                The Drives windows has the A: drive highlighted.

Note:  If A: is not highlighted,  Click on the arrow in the Drives box.  This will give a list.  Highlight A: by clicking on it.

                You will now need to choose a file name. 

                Files names must be eight characters or less (letters and numbers). 

                At the File Name box type EXAMPLE  and press <ENTER>

                This will save your document on your diskette with the name EXAMPLE.DOC

Future Reference:  Please note the file is saved in Word Format.  To save to another format, click on the arrow beside save file as type and choose the appropriate type.  When using a different word processor, you must be sure to save your document in a format that the word processor can recognize.

Inserting Text

To insert text, move your cursor (the blinking line) to the position where the insertion is to occur and type the text.

For example, move to the beginning of the text and insert the following line.

FRANCIS MARION UNIVERSITY HISTORY   <ENTER>  <ENTER>

This will place the line at the beginning of the text with one blank line before the first paragraph.

Deleting  Text

To delete text, move your cursor to the position where the deletion is to occur and press the delete key.

For example, move to phrase “its first academic term” in the second paragraph.   Now press the <Delete> key until the text is no longer on the screen.

Selecting text

You must select or highlight a block of text to be able to do special formatting.

                Move to the beginning of the text to highlight.

                Click on the left button of the mouse and hold while moving the mouse to the end of the text to be highlighted.

                Now release the left button of the mouse.  The text will highlighted on the screen.

Underling text

To underline a block of text,

                Select the text to be underlined (See Selecting text section)

                Press the underline button (looks like  U) on the ruler at the top of the screen.

                The text will now be underlined.

Try to underline the first line of the text.

Bolding text

To bold a block of text,

                Select the text to be in boldface (See Selecting text section)

                Press the bold button (looks like B) on the ruler at the top of the screen.

                The text will now be in bold.

Try  to bold the first line of text.  

Copying text

To copy  text from one part of the document to another.

                Select the text to be copied (See Selecting text section)

                Click on Edit

                Click on Copy

                Move your cursor to the location to place the copy of the text.

                Click on Edit

                Click on Paste

You have now placed a copy the text at the new location.

Moving text

To move  text from one part of the document to another.

                Select the text to be moved (See Selecting text section)

                Click on Edit

                Click on Cut

                Move your cursor to the location where the text is to be moved to.

                Click on Edit

                Click on Paste

You have now moved the text to the new location.

Saving the document to the same name

To save your file

                Click on File

                Click on Save

Note:  You will not be asked for a file name since one already exists.  The new updated document will replace the old document.

Saving to a new name

To save to a new file (for a backup),

                Click on File

                Click on Save As

As when saving a document for the first time, you must type a file name and be sure the drive is A:   You decide on the new name to save the copy of the file.  (Remember that a file name can not be longer than 8 characters).

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Retrieving an old document

To retrieve or open a previously created document,

                Click on File

                Click on Open

                Make sure that drive A: is chosen.

                Highlight the file to retrieve under the file name box.

                Click on OK

Printing a document

When printing a document, you will need to be aware that the document will always print where the default printer has been set.  The default printer will be the dot matrix printer (called the local or LPT1 printer) unless you have changed it. When using the dot matrix printer, make sure the printer is turned on and that the switch box is set to the computer you are located at.

                Click on File

                Click on Print

                Click on OK

On-line Help and Tutorials

MS Word offers excellent on-line help.  You can get help on a specific topic or see a demonstration of a topic.

                Click on Help

                Click on Examples and Demos     (This allows you to go through an on-line demonstration.)

Exiting Word

To exit the word program,

                Click on File

                Click on Exit

Please remember to save your updated changes before you exit the program.  Word will prompt you before you exit to save if the document on the screen as been modified.

REMEMBER: Take your diskette out of the computer.  This diskette contains your document.

Exiting Windows

 To exit windows,

                Click on File (in the Program Manager)

                Click on Exit Windows

                Click on OK

You will now be at the FMU CWIS Menu from where you started.  You can now turn off your computer.