4 Using Styles

4 Using Styles

This section contains a series of exercises in the use of styles in Microsoft Word

Using Pre-defined Styles

Objective To use one of Word's pre-defined styles
Instructions You will type in some text  and give it a style
Comments Word comes with a large number of pre-defined styles

Activity 1.1
Type in the following lines of blue text. Only press the <Enter> key where there is a blank line; the text will automatically wrap on to the next line where necessary:

Using Styles

This exercise illustrates the use of styles. Documents can have a variety of styles and styles can have their own layout.

How to Specify A Style

A number of standard styles are available in the style box, near the top of the screen.

Activity 1.2
Place the cursor anywhere on the first line of the document and click the left-hand mouse button. Then move the cursor to the style box and click on the down arrow. The top left of the screen should look similar to the one below:



Now move the cursor and click on the text Heading 1 in the style box. Notice how the text of the first line changes.

Place the cursor on the next sub-heading (How To Specify A Style) and press the left mouse button. Then choose Heading 1 from the style box. The text should look to the example below:





Changing Style Definitions

Objective To change the definition of a pre-defined style
Instructions You will change the Normal and Heading 1 styles of your document
Comments All styles except the Normal style can be automatically updated

Activity 2.1
Select Style... from the Format menu. From the list on the left-hand side choose Normal and click on the <Modify> button. Click on the <Format> button and choose Paragraph. Set the Left indentation to 2.54cm (or 1").



Click on the <OK> button to confirm the settings in this dialog box, <OK> in the Modify Style dialog box and <Close> to close the Style dialog box. Notice how all the text has been indented.

Activity 2.2
Click anywhere in the first line of text. Drag the left indent bar back to zero.



Activity 2.3
Open the style box and click on the Heading 1 setting. The following message will be displayed:



Click on the <OK> button. Notice how both occurences of Heading have now changed.


Setting Up Your Own Style

Objective To set up and use a new style
Instructions You will create a new style called Author in which text will be italic and right aligned
Comments You need to be familiar with the buttons on the ruler bar to complete this activity

Activity 3.1
Type in your name at the bottom of the text. Select the entire line (so that it is highlighted) and then make it italic by clicking on the Italic button on the toolbar. Make the line right aligned by clicking on the Align Right button.

Activity 3.2
Highlight the style name in the style box. Overwrite the existing style name with 'Author' and then press <Enter>. You have now created a style called Author.

Activity 3.3
Add some new text on another part of your document containing a list of five names on separate lines. Postition the cursor on the first name and change the style to Author. Select the remaining four names and change the style to Author. Your document should now look like the document below: