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Once Word is open, you can begin creating documents. The following instructions will guide you through the basics of creating documents with Word 2003.
You can create new documents by using the menu option or the toolbar option. The menu option gives you more options for choosing your new document. However, the toolbar is the faster and easier way of getting a blank document on your screen.
From the File menu, select New...
The New Document task pane appears.
From the New section, click BLANK DOCUMENT
A new document appears.
On the Standard toolbar, click NEW BLANK DOCUMENT![]()
A new document appears.
The Save and Save As commands are located within the File menu. If you are saving a document for the first time, either selection will take you to the Save As dialog box.
Use this option if you are saving your document for the first time or if you are saving an already saved file under a new name.
From the File menu, select Save As...
The Save As dialog box appears.

From the Save in pull-down list, make the appropriate selection:
To save to your H: drive or another network drive, select (H:) or another network drive
To save to a floppy disk, select 3½ Floppy (A:)
To save to the hard drive, select (C:)
HINTS:
If you are working in a General Access lab, saving to the hard drive is not recommended.
For a quicker way to find files, use the Places Bar. For more information, refer to The Office 2003 Environment.
In the File name text box, type a filename
HINTS:
To help you locate the file in the future, use a descriptive filename.
Do not include a file extension. Word automatically adds a .doc extension.
Click SAVE
The document is saved.
Use the Save command to save a document that has already been named and saved. If you select the Save command and you have not saved the document before, you will need to use the Save As option. Use the Save command to frequently save changes to your document.
Follow these instructions to open already existing documents.
From the File menu, select Open...
OR
On the Standard toolbar, click OPEN![]()
OR
Press [Ctrl]+[O]
The Open dialog box appears.
From the Look in pull-down list, make the appropriate selection
HINTS:
Only Word files with a .doc extension are displayed.
If the desired file is not listed, it may have another file extension. From the Files of type pull down list, select All Files.
Select the desired file
To open the file, click OPEN
The document is opened.
When you want to print your document, you can use Print Preview to see how your document will be printed. When you are ready to print, you can print directly from the Print Preview screen, use the menu option, or use the toolbar option. You can also change the default printer for future documents.
The Print Preview feature is useful for viewing your document prior to printing. You can also print directly from the Print Preview screen.
From the File menu, select Print Preview
OR
On the Standard toolbar, click PRINT PREVIEW
Print Preview appears.
To print, on the Print Preview toolbar, click PRINT![]()
To return to your document without printing, on the Print Preview toolbar, click CLOSE
Print Preview closes.
From the File menu, select Print...
The Print dialog box appears.
From the Name pull-down list, select the desired printer
In the Page range and Copies sections, make the desired selections
HINT: For more information about page range options, refer to Printing Options for Specific Pages.
To print your document, click OK
The document is printed.
WARNING: When you use this option, all pages of your document are printed. This print process does not take you through the Print dialog box, so you cannot select any print options.
On the Standard toolbar, click PRINT![]()
The document is printed.
To make printing faster and easier, you can set a default printer that will automatically be used every time you print.
From the Start menu, select Printers and Faxes
The Printers and Faxes window appears.
Right click the desired printer » select Set as Default Printer
The default printer is set.
When you are finished working on your document, you have two options, depending on whether you are finished using Word.
From the File menu, select Close
If you have made changes that have not been saved, a dialog box appears asking you if you want to save the document.
To save the document, click YES
To close without saving, click NO
From the File menu, select Exit
If you have made changes that have not been saved, a dialog box appears asking you if you want to save the document.
To save any open document(s), click YES
To close without saving, click NO
To continue working, click CANCEL