Microsoft® Word 2007 Bible

Chapter 45. Keyboard Customization

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Shortcuts for assigning shortcut keys

• Understanding shortcut keys and templates

• Advanced methods for finding commands

• Assigning shortcut keys to styles, symbols, and macros

To a Word power user, one of the most amazing pieces of Word trivia is that most users don't take advantage of the option to customize Word's keyboard. It's pure agony for a power user to watch as someone repeatedly reaches for the mouse, drilling down through multiple layers of ribbons for a command that could easily be assigned to a simple keystroke.

Some of us like to think that this lack of customization is really a lack of awareness. Once you know that I-95 exists, why on earth would you choose instead to drive US 1 when going from Jacksonville to Richmond? You might make occasional scenic detours, or stop for lunch, but there's no way you'd put up with all of those traffic lights the entire way.

Ribbons are like traffic lights. They're there if you need them, but if you already know where you're going, why not go there directly? Let's hit the road!

Getting Started

Getting Started

The first thing you need to know when you consider customizing your keyboard is that there effectively are no reserved keys in Word. Unlike a lot of programs, in which you have no choice or little choice about what's assigned to what, in Word your options are wide open. If you would rather that Ctrl+H be used to highlight selected text (yellow marker style) than be used for Replace, it's ...