How to set up your Quick Access Toolbar

One of the first things you must do when you start using Word 2007, is to set up your Quick Access Toolbar.

Set up your Quick Access Toolbar.

The Quick Access Toolbar is a customizable toolbar onto which you can place the commands that you want to see all the time, no matter what tab is currently displayed.

When you first start up Word 2007, the Quick Access Toolbar is located in the upper-left corner next to the Microsoft Office Button, but you can move this below the ribbon if you prefer. You can also collect the commands you commonly use and place them on this toolbar. This will reduce the number of keystrokes it takes to perform the command.

To customize the Quick Access Toolbar

1. Click the Office button, Word Options to display the Word Options dialog box. OR
   
2. Click the More down arrow to the right of the Quick Access Toolbar and click More Commands. OR
   
3. Right click in any blank area of the Ribbon. Click Customize Quick Access Toolbar.
   

You are taken to the Word Options menu with the Customize button highlighted. From here you can add, remove and re-organise your Quick Access Toolbar icons.

1. Check through the options listed in the Choose commands from: drop down list.
   
2. Highlight a command you use frequently.
   
3. Click the Add button to display the command in the right side column.
   
4. Do this a few times to add some useful commands to the Quick Access Toolbar.
   
5. Organise the items in the list into the order you will want to see them on the toolbar, using the up and down
   arrows.
   
6. Separate groups with a Separator which you will find at the top of each of the lists.
   
7. Tick the Show Quick Access Toolbar below the ribbon check box to move the toolbar to the location below the ribbon.
   
8. Click OK.
   

You are returned to your document, but now you will see a new bar underneath your ribbon with the commands you selected.

The Quick Way to insert a single command

1. Right click on any command on the Ribbon
   
2. Click Add to Quick Access Toolbar.
   

The command will be placed at the right hand end of the Quick Access Toolbar.

Advanced QAT functions

Although the core QAT buttons always remain the same, and do not change from template to template, or document to document, it is possible to customise specific documents and templates with different QAT buttons. For more information on how to do this, go to my book, Enjoy Upgrading to Microsoft Word 2007.