MICROSOFT WORD

Microsoft Word

Is a word processor developed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms includingIBM PCs running DOS (1983), Apple Macintosh running Mac OS (1985), AT&T Unix PC (1985), Atari ST (1988),SCO Unix (1994), OS/2 (1989), and Microsoft Windows (1989). Commercial versions of Word are licensed as a standalone product or as a component of Microsoft Office, Windows RT or the discontinued Microsoft Works suite. Freeware editions of Word are Microsoft Word Viewer and Office Online, both of which have limited features.

History of Microsoft Word

The first version of Microsoft Word was developed by Charles Simonyi and Richard Brodie, former Xerox programmers hired by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1981. Both programmers worked on Xerox Bravo, the first WYSIWYG word processor. The first Word version, Word 1.0, was released in October 1983 for Xenix and MS-DOS; it was followed by four very similar versions that were not very successful. The first Windows version was released in 1989, with a slightly improved interface. When Windows 3.0 was released in 1990, Word became a huge commercial success. Word for Windows 1.0 was followed by Word 2.0 in 1991 and Word 6.0 in 1993. Then it was renamed to Word 95 and Word 97, Word 2000 and Word for Office XP (to follow Windows commercial names). With the release of Word 2003, the numbering was again year-based. Since then, Word 2007, Word 2010, and most recently, Word 2013 have been released for Windows.

In 1986, an agreement between Atari and Microsoft brought Word to the Atari ST.The Atari ST version was a translation of Word 1.05 for the Apple Macintosh; however, it was released under the name Microsoft Write (the name of the word processor included with Windows during the 80s and early 90s).^[2][3] Unlike other versions of Word, the Atari version was a one time release with no future updates or revisions. The release of Microsoft Write was one of two major PC applications that were released for the Atari ST (the other application being WordPerfect). Microsoft Write was released for the Atari ST in 1988.

Charles Simonyi (Hungarian: Simonyi Károly, pronounced [ˈʃimoɲi ˈkɑːroj]; born September 10, 1948), son of Károly Simonyi, is a Hungarian-American computer software executive who, as head of Microsoft's application software group, oversaw the creation of Microsoft's flagship Office suite of applications. He now heads his own company, Intentional Software,with the aim of developing and marketing his concept of intentional programming.In April 2007, aboard Soyuz TMA-10, he became the fifth space tourist and the second Hungarian in space. In March 2009, aboard Soyuz TMA-14, he made a second trip to the International Space Station. His estimated net worth is US$1 billion.

Origins and growth

In 1981, Microsoft hired Charles Simonyi, the primary developer of Bravo, the first GUI word processor, which was developed at Xerox PARC. Simonyi started work on a word processor called Multi-Tool Word and soon hired Richard Brodie, a former Xerox intern, who became the primary software engineer.

Microsoft announced Multi-Tool Word for Xenix and MS-DOS in 1983. Its name was soon simplified to Microsoft Word. Free demonstration copies of the application were bundled with the November 1983 issue of PC World, making it the first to be distributed on-disk with a magazine.That year Microsoft demonstrated Word running on Windows.

Microsoft Word and their Functions

1. Office Button – Click the Office Button to find a drop down menu containing options, such as: open, save, and

print. Also shows previously opened files, which you may choose to “pin” them to make them “permanent”

choices.

2. Ribbon – The Ribbon is the strip of buttons and icons located above the work area in Word 2007. The Ribbon

replaces the menus and toolbars found in earlier versions of Word. Each ribbon contains groups of command

buttons with common purpose. Each ribbon contains 7 tabs.

3. Tab Selector button – You can easily set tab stops by clicking on the desired position on the ruler. This button

allows you to determine which type of tab will be set left aligned , right aligned , center aligned or

decimal tab . Clicking on this button will allow you to change the tab style.

4. Rulers – Gives you an idea of where you are on the page

5. Document – This is what you are typing/what will print out

6. Status Bar – This row can be customized by right-clicking and selecting desired options. Desired options may

include page number/number of total page, word count, insert/overtype mode, caps lock, and zoom slide.

7. Task Bar – Shows open programs.

8. View Shortcuts – These four buttons allow you to change the way you view your document on the screen. From

left to right they are: print layout, full screen reading, web layout and draft. These can be added/removed by right

clicking anywhere on the status bar and checking/unchecking View shortcuts.

9. Zoom Slide – Allows you to increase/decrease the amount of the document you see on the screen.

10. View Ruler Button – Allows you to view/hide the rulers.

11. Screen Split Button – At the top of the vertical scroll bar is a new button. Just below the double arrow is a tiny

button that looks like a minus sign that lets you split your screen in two when double-clicked. Double-clicking it a

second time will unsplit your screen.

12. Scroll Bars – Allows you to view entire workbook by moving it up, down (vertical scroll bar), left or right (horizontal

scroll bar).

13. Right Indent – Slide this triangle to the left of the margin to limit the right side of a paragraph to that point. Move

the triangle to the right of the margin to allow the right side of the paragraph to extend beyond the margin. The

triangle at the margin will keep the right side of the paragraph with the margin.

14. Group – Command buttons with a common purpose are clustered together. Each ribbon contains several groups.

Some groups, but not all, contain a quick launch bar (dialogue box launcher) in the bottom right hand corner.

15. Quick Launch Bar/Dialogue Box Launcher – It is the arrow in the bottom right hand corner of some

groups. When clicked, it will bring up a dialog box where additional options/changes can be entered.

16. Title Bar – Shows name of program and open document. Also contains minimize, maximize and close buttons.

17. Quick Access Toolbar – This customizable toolbar allows you to add frequently used commands. Click on the

down arrow at the end of the toolbar to add/remove command buttons – or - right-click on any command button

and choose Add to Quick Access Toolbar.

18. Tab – The ribbon is broken down into 7 tabs. Each tab has a common purpose and consists of several groups. To

select a tab, simply click on it and the appropriate groups will be displayed.

19. First Line Indent – This triangle controls where the first line of a paragraph begins. Moved to the left of the

margin, will allow the first paragraph to be in the left margin. Can be moved to the right of the margin to indent

your paragraph. THIS IS NOT SETTING TABS!

20. Hanging Indent – The opposite of a first line indent. It is often moved to the right of the first line indent, which

allows the remaining lines of a paragraph to be indented according to placement of the triangle.

references

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Word
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Simonyi