Getting Help in Word

Word offers several types of help, as well as different help interfaces. Here’s what you’ll find
on the Help menu:
✦ Microsoft Word Help: Opens the Help task pane, where you can type keywords to
find information, view a table of contents, and find information on the Microsoft.com
Web site.
✦ Show/Hide the Office Assistant: Turns the Office Assistant on and off. You can click
once on the Assistant to ask a question, or right-click to view a menu from which you
can set options. The Office Assistant incorporates IntelliSense Technology to provide
a natural language interface to the system. The Assistant also automatically provides
Help topics and tips on tasks that you perform as you work.
✦ Office on Microsoft.com: Loads the Office Web site into your Web browser. This is a
site that provides updated help information and other technical resources. You also
can download free service release updates and product enhancements, and purchase
third-party add-on tools that let you print postage, translate documents, send faxes,
and more.
✦ Contact Us: Displays the Contact Us page on the Office Web site.
✦ WordPerfect Help: This eases the transition for users switching from WordPerfect to
Word. There is a separate Help dialog box for WordPerfect users, and you can even turn
on an option that automatically tells you how to use a Word feature when you press a
WordPerfect keystroke combination.
✦ Detect and Repair: Runs a utility that checks the Microsoft Office program files for
problems and repairs any problems it finds.
✦ Activate Product: Turns on, or registers, the program.
✦ Privacy Settings: Allows you to modify your Customer Service Improvement Program.
This is a system by which Word can transmit information, across the Internet, about
your hardware and about how you use your computer. This is anonymous information
that Microsoft is using to plan new software and determine problems with Word. It also
allows Microsoft to upload new help information to your system, and a little program
that tracks software errors. By default this system is turned on; you can turn it off if
you prefer, as many users do. How do you decide? It all depends how paranoid (or careful)
you want to be. Do you trust that your information will be used appropriately? If
not, turn it off.
✦ About Microsoft Word: Displays a dialog box that includes information about Word’s
version number, the product’s license, and the system information about your computer
and Windows settings. You will most likely need this information when you call
for technical support. If a Word feature doesn’t seem to be working, click the Disabled
Items button in this dialog box. Word sometimes disables components that are causing
problems (restarting the program may restart the functions).
In addition, you’ll find a Type a Question for Help text box on the right side of the menu bar;
type keywords in here, press Enter, and the Help task pane opens