Word 2007 - Building Blocks

Whenever you type the same thing in Word more than once, ask yourself if there isn't a smarter way to work. The new Building Blocks feature in Word 2007 lets you create and save frequently used content so that it can be easily inserted into your document.

So, for example if you repeatedly add a disclaimer or a bio to your documents, create it as a building block and insert it into the document when required. To do this, type the text to create as a building block and select it. Choose Insert, Quick Parts and choose Save Selection To Quick Part Gallery. Type a name for the block, select the gallery to attach it to and the category and description of the Building Block. It’s best to save the building block to buildingblocks.dotx as building blocks saved to this file are available regardless of which template is currently in use. Choose the options for the content and click Ok.

In future, to add a Building Block to a document, click the Insert tab and then Quick Parts and select the block to add.

Selecting chart elements in Excel 2007

It used to be easy to know what part of a chart you had selected in Excel 2003 - you just read the name off the left hand side of the Formula Bar.

Look in vain for this same feature in Excel 2007. Click anything on the chart and the formula bar just says Chart 1 - like duh! I know I have the chart selected it's the element on it that I'm interested in.

The solution is the new Chart Element tool. Click the chart to select it, choose Chart Tools > Format on the ribbon and in the top left corner is the Chart Element list. Not only will it tell you what you have selected on the chart but it's a dropdown list of names of various chart elements. Click one and that portion of the chart is selected automatically.

It's a handy new tool, I'd just like the benefits of the features from Excel 2003 and 2007 blended into one.. call me fussy.

Images in Word tables

It is possible to place an image inside a table cell in Word. To do this, first create a table, click inside the cell and then choose Insert Picture > From File and select the image to insert. You can size the image inside the table cell as requiredby dragging on its sizing handles.

If you set the image's Text Wrapping to Behind Text or In Front of Text the image will no longer be constrained to the table and will jump out of it and operate independently of it. To wrap text around the image inside the table cell use the Square or Tight options for best results. In Line With Text only wraps one line and it's pretty awful.