Microsoft office learnings: How to Learn Microsoft Office Basics

The fastest way to learn about Microsoft Office Suite is to get to know the icons. Many of the icons are the same from program to program. Icons are the little pictures that represent a function. To use them, all you do is click on them. For example, by clicking on the printer icon, your document will print automatically.

Once you are familiar with several of the icons, you will be able to use them in all of the Microsoft Office Suite programs like; Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and others.

Other software makers use icons that are similar to Microsoft Office icons. This means that you will automatically know how to use the basic functions, no matter which software you are using. Many of the icons you need are on the Standard Toolbar in Microsoft Office Suite programs. To see the purpose of each icon, slide the mouse on top of them. These are the icons you should learn first.

Step 1

Open a New Blank Document

Open New Blank. Click here to open a new blank template (document), you always start with the "Normal" template. This is an automatic process and a new blank document always opens when you start Microsoft Word.

Step 2

Open a Current Document

Open Existing Document. Click here to open an existing document. This icon will be used more than the New Blank Document icon.

Step 3

Save the Document

Save. This is one of the most important icons ever. New computer users do not save their documents often enough. Waiting until the document if finished is too long to wait. Save the document every few minutes or after 25-30 new words. You cannot over save a document, but you can under save. When the computer saves, it writes over the previous information and adds new words and graphics. Be Safe, SAVE a lot!

Step 4

Print the Document

Print. Click here to print your document.

Step 5

Preview the Document before Printing

Print Preview. Shows you a picture of the document you are working on before you print. This is a very useful tool to look for formatting errors.

Step 6

Check the Spelling and Grammar

Spelling and Grammar. This icon checks your document for basic spelling and grammar mistakes. This is the start of proofreading your document.

Step 7

Cut or Remove and Image or Text

Cut. The scissors will cut or remove words and pictures from your document. The cut is usually used along with the Paste function.

Step 8

Copy Selected Text or Graphics

Copy. The Copy icon copies information or pictures and places them on the Clipboard (a temporary storage place). After copying the information, move the insertion point to the new location then click on Paste.

Step 9

Past Text or Image that was copied to the Clipboard

Paste. The Paste icon works with the Copy and Cut functions, it places a duplicate copy of information or pictures you have just copied or cut into a new location. Select the item you be moved, click on either Copy or Cut, move to the new location then click on Paste.