The Mini toolbar is a ghostly floating palette which automatically appears whenever you highlight text. Initially all the options it contains are discreetly semi-transparent. However, when you position your cursor over the various controls it contains, the Mini toolbar becomes activated.
It contains a number of options for formatting your text. All of these options can be found in the Home tab of the Word Ribbon. The top row of icons allows you to change the font, size and colour of our text and also contains Word's nifty Format Painter. The Format Painter allows you to copy the format of the selected text to other areas of your document.
The second row of the Mini toolbar contains buttons for making text bold, italic, centre aligned. It also has options for changing the colour of the highlighted text, indenting text and inserting bullets.
The Mini toolbar offers a very convenient way of quickly formatting your text without having to go back to the Ribbon to find the options you're looking for. However, there are times when it can be inconvenient. This is particularly true when using the drag-and-drop facility within Microsoft Word.
This feature enables you to highlight text and simply drag it to a new location. However, as you are about to drag, it's very easy for the cursor to collide with the Mini toolbar and instead of dragging your text you end up changing its format.
As a user of Word 2007, only you can decide whether you like the Mini toolbar facility or not. If you decide it's not for you, Word allows you to deactivate the Mini toolbar facility. Choose Word Options from the Office button. The very first option in the Popular category is "Show Mini Toolbar on selection". If you decide that the you not like the Mini toolbar, simply switch off this option. Now, whenever you highlight text, no Mini toolbar palette will appear.
The creators of Word 2007 obviously believe that you will eventually come round and become a fan of the Mini toolbar because, even when you have asked Word not to display the Mini toolbar, it is still possible to show it by simply right-clicking on selected text. - 15634
It contains a number of options for formatting your text. All of these options can be found in the Home tab of the Word Ribbon. The top row of icons allows you to change the font, size and colour of our text and also contains Word's nifty Format Painter. The Format Painter allows you to copy the format of the selected text to other areas of your document.
The second row of the Mini toolbar contains buttons for making text bold, italic, centre aligned. It also has options for changing the colour of the highlighted text, indenting text and inserting bullets.
The Mini toolbar offers a very convenient way of quickly formatting your text without having to go back to the Ribbon to find the options you're looking for. However, there are times when it can be inconvenient. This is particularly true when using the drag-and-drop facility within Microsoft Word.
This feature enables you to highlight text and simply drag it to a new location. However, as you are about to drag, it's very easy for the cursor to collide with the Mini toolbar and instead of dragging your text you end up changing its format.
As a user of Word 2007, only you can decide whether you like the Mini toolbar facility or not. If you decide it's not for you, Word allows you to deactivate the Mini toolbar facility. Choose Word Options from the Office button. The very first option in the Popular category is "Show Mini Toolbar on selection". If you decide that the you not like the Mini toolbar, simply switch off this option. Now, whenever you highlight text, no Mini toolbar palette will appear.
The creators of Word 2007 obviously believe that you will eventually come round and become a fan of the Mini toolbar because, even when you have asked Word not to display the Mini toolbar, it is still possible to show it by simply right-clicking on selected text. - 15634
About the Author:
The writer of this article is a developer and trainer with Macresource Computer Solutions, a UK IT training company offering Microsoft Word Classes in London and throughout the UK.
