What's new with automating your tasks and getting assistance?

Word 97 provides an extensive set of automatic features that make everyday tasks easier.

AutoCorrect

Word can correct the following errors automatically while you type:

· Accidental usage of the CAPS LOCK key ¾ new in Word 95. For example, Word replaces tHESE with These at the beginning of a sentence and then turns off CAPS LOCK.

· Plural and possessive forms of a word ¾ new in Word 95. For example, if you have an AutoCorrect entry that inserts Sweet Lil whenever you type SL, Word also automatically changes SL's to Sweet Lil's.

· Common multiple word spelling errors. For example, Word replaces int he with in the.

· Common word pairs that are spelled correctly but are grammatically incorrect when used together. For example, Word replaces your a with you're a.

Word can format text automatically as you type.

· Word creates numbered and bulleted lists when you start a list with a number or an asterisk ¾ new in Word 95.

· Word creates a single or double border for you when you type three or more consecutive hyphens (-) or equal signs (=) in a row and then press ENTER ¾ new in Word 95.

· Word applies built-in heading styles to text, such as Heading 1, when you type a line of text with no ending punctuation and then press ENTER twice ¾ new in Word 95.

· Word formats ordinal numbers and fractions, such as changing 1st to or 1/4 to ¼ ¾ new in Word 95.

· Word formats network and Internet paths ¾ such as \\Reports\May\Week1.doc and http://www.microsoft.com/ ¾ as hyperlinks. When you click an Internet hyperlink, Word starts your Web browser and takes you to the specified Web page. When you click a network hyperlink, Word starts the program necessary to open the destination and opens the file specified.

· Word automates the lead-in emphasis ¾ that is, detects the formatting applied in the first list item and applies it to the next item. For example:

1. Word 97 is smart! It does the work for you.

2. Word 97 is cool! It makes your document look amazing.

· Word translates common typing patterns to richer formatting ¾ for example, Word changes *Bold* to Bold and _Underline_ to Underline.

· When you type +----+----+, Word creates a table with a column for each pair of + signs.

· Word detects leading spaces that correspond to the left margin of the bulleted or numbered paragraph above and changes your left indentation for you.

Word can automatically offer suggestions for the rest of the word or phrase you are typing. To accept the suggestion, you press ENTER and Word automatically replaces your partially typed word with the completed word. Word 97 will automatically complete:

· The current date

· A day of the week

· A month other than the current one

· Your name and company name

· AutoText entries

  AutoSummarize

You can use the Word AutoSummarize feature to automatically summarize the key points in a document. Word analyzes your document statistically and linguistically to determine the most important sentences and gives you a custom summary based on this analysis. With AutoSummarize, you can highlight the key points in an online document and view it at different levels of detail. Or you can automatically create a separate summary or abstract. You have total control of the length of the summary.

It's important that you comply with all applicable copyright laws when using this feature. You should review the accuracy of any summary because it is, by its nature, not the entirety of the work.

Automatic style creation and style preview

Words 97 includes the following style improvements:

· It automatically creates a style for you when you apply new formatting to your text.

· It can automatically redefine styles to reflect your recently applied changes.

· It gives you an instant preview of each style from the Style list on the Formatting toolbar.

The Letter Wizard in Word 97 can help you write a new letter quickly and easily, or it can help you change and add to elements in your existing letter. It includes:

· Letter Wizard dialog box. Accessible from the Tools menu, this dialog box provides letter element choices you can make to easily build your letter. If you've already started a letter, this dialog box displays the appropriate information from your letter, so you can get an instant snapshot of what you have and what you need. In addition, Word remembers whom you've sent letters to and stores all related information, such as contact names, addresses, and titles, in a list. When you send a letter to a previous recipient, all you have to do is select that person's name from a list, and Word automatically fills in the rest of the information for you.

· Step-by-step help through the Office Assistant. When you type in a common letter opening, such as "Dear Joe," Word recognizes it as a letter opening and immediately offers to step you through the letter creation process using the Office Assistant. The Office Assistant is fully integrated with the Letter Wizard dialog box and provides hints and details on all the letter elements.

· Easy text reuse. Once you use the Letter Wizard, Word automatically adds structure and styles to your letter by converting letter elements into AutoText List fields. For example, the closing text "Sincerely" is converted to a Closing field. When you right-click the word "Sincerely," a menu appears that offers alternative closings, such as "Best regards" and "Cordially." You can easily replace "Sincerely" with any of these closings just by clicking it.

The Office Assistant, which replaces the Word 95 Answer Wizard, uses IntelliSense™ natural-language technology. The Assistant anticipates the kind of help you need and suggests Help topics based on the work you're doing. You can also type a Help request in your own words and get the answer you need. You can have the Assistant offer to start a wizard when you begin certain tasks, such as creating a letter. The new Office Assistant character in Word 97 is a central place for you to get tips on how to use Word features more efficiently and find visual examples and step-by-step instructions for specific tasks.