Microsoft Office Publisher A User-Friendly Publishing Program For Varied Projects

Overview Of Offerings Microsoft Publisher offers numerous templates to personalize or the option of working from a blank page. “What you see is what you get.” This program allows the creator to see exactly how the final project will look.

Getting Started Microsoft Publisher can be accessed right from your desktop. Step 1: Press “Start” Step 2: Press “Programs” Step 3: Locate “Microsoft Office” Step 4: Locate “Microsoft Publisher” Click on this.

Continue From this screen you will have the option of working from a list of preset publication types or working from a blank piece of paper.

Filling a Blank Page When looking at a blank page the first thing you need to do is to set up the page type/size and orientation. Click on File Click on Page Set Up and follow the questions on this screen to create the desired page orientation.

Setting Up Margins The next Step is to set your margins. Click on “Arrange” at the top of your screen. Find the option “Layout Guide” and click on this. This will bring you to a screen which will allow you to set your margins. One thing to keep in mind is whether or not your document will be bound. If so, you may want to allow for extra space for binding.

Time To Create You are now ready to fill your page. Option 1: Word Art – This is a fun option for titling. Click on the icon at left that looks like a slanted A with a shadow. Choose a style that you wish to use. Double click on the style you wish to use. A new screen will appear asking you to type in your text. Note: You may choose any style and change the font type and size to get the desired look. You will see that you may also choose bold and italics.

Continued Once you are satisfied with the desired look you wish to create, click “OK”. Your word art will appear on your publisher document. Word Art Object will have dots on the parameters allowing for resizing of object. By left clicking on white dot and holding you may easily resize object. Note: The yellow dot at the top of the word art allows for rotation of object. Left Click on object and hold down. This allows you to freely move object within the document.

Do you like what you see? Proof your work. Do you like what you see? If not, Right click on object. Find “Format Word Art” and click. This will bring up an options box to change the look of word art. Keep in mind that “Word Art” is just what it says – word in an art form. If you do not wish for fancy titling but desire to have just a simple text title at the top of your document, this can easily be done within a text box.

Other Options Now that you have mastered Word Art, let’s take a look at other options to add to your page. Of course one option that you will use the most is your text box. Find the icon on the left hand side of your screen that looks like a small newspaper. When you click on this you will see a + appear. Left click your mouse and drag across screen to create the desired size text box. A box will appear with a blinking cursor in the upper left hand corner where you may begin to type. Just like in other publishing programs, you have the option of choosing the size and style of font and orientation (left, centered, right), most options in this part are the same as those used in PowerPoint screens.

Continued You may click on “View” at the top of your screen and Zoom to have a closer view as you type. Just like with the word art creation, you have the option to move your text box anywhere on the page by clicking on it and dragging to the desired location. The text box also has formatting options. Right click on the text box and find the “Format Text Box” option. This will pull up another screen with options. Some options within this screen will allow you to create borders around text boxes.

Inserting Pictures There are two picture icons to the left side of screen. These picture icons allow you to easily add graphics to your document. The top icon, which looks like the picture of a landscape, allows you to insert pictures from sources such as picture files, scanners. The second icon, which looks like a picture of a person, allows you to insert clipart. There are several clipart options right within your Microsoft Publisher program.

Continued Left click on the second button to access clipart. A search options box will appear to the left of your document. Type key word in box and click on “search”. Clip art options will appear. Left click on desired clipart. Clipart will appear on your publisher page. Again you may resize and move object as you did other objects.

What is that toolbar? A new toolbar has appeared on your screen. This toolbar allows you to adjust the graphic you have just added to your publisher document. Color, contrast, brightness, crop, line/border style

Creating a Table Creating a Table is done just like creating a text box. Click on the table icon on the left side of your screen. A smaller screen will appear asking you questions about the appearance and size of your table. Once you have formatted your table click ok.

Continued **An important tip when working with your table is to note that your cell properties will not auto flow from one column into the next unless you highlight table and set this. To do this, click on upper left box of table and drag corner to corner until your entire table is highlighted.

Continued **Another helpful tip is to understand that gridlines of table will not automatically appear. You must again highlight table by left clicking in upper left box and drag to lower right corner while holding down on mouse. When table is highlighted locate “Format” button at the top of your screen. Find “Table” in the list of options. Click on this. This will pull up another screen where color and grid lines can be added to table. There is also a “Table” button at the top of your screen. This button will allow you to insert and delete columns to your table.

Grouping When you have mastered some of the basics of this program, there are other buttons and features that are helpful. Objects can be grouped so that you can move them as one and not have to realign. To do this: Hold down shift key on keyboard and left click on all objects you wish to group. A little white box has appeared at the bottom of your screen. By clicking on this, you have just grouped selected objects together. These can now be moved as one.

Arrange Another button that is very helpful is the “Arrange” button at the top of your screen. This button allows you to layer objects on top of each other. Two icons at the top of your screen allow for 3-D and shadowing of objects.

Is That All? You will note that there are still icons to the left of your document that we have not yet used. These are probably used less but are still handy options to add to documents. Lines, arrows, boxes, ovals, AutoShapes, Design Gallery

Inserting Pages Additional pages can be added to your publisher document through the insert button at the top of your screen. This also allows for the duplication of objects from page to page.

Welcome to the world of Microsoft Publisher!