How to Create/Use "Autotext" Entries in 2007 using keystrokes

J

Jannr

Help!!! I cannot seem to figure out how to use the equivalent of autotext in
word 2007. Specifically, I cannot figure out how to use it by utilizing
keystrokes as I did in 2003. It seems to defeat the point of using it if you
have to constantly go up to the toolbar, er "Ribbon", search for the entry
and hit enter.
 
H

Herb Tyson [MVP]

At its simplest, creating one is identical to creating one in Word 2003.
Select the text you want to use as an AutoText, press Alt+F3, and press
Enter.

Beyond that, you can change the name, if desired. You can set Gallery to
AutoText, if you want to, but it's not essential, since all Gallery items
are expandable using F3. If you use categories, set one. You can choose to
save it in Building Blocks.dotx or in the current document template. And,
you can control the way it gets inserted -- exactly what's stored, as a
whole new paragraph, or as a whole new page.
 
B

Beth Melton

Due to the large number of additional Building Blocks (formerly known as
AutoText) in Word 2007 they removed the AutoComplete tip functionality, (the
yellow screen tip that had, "Press Enter to insert" after typing the first
few characters), due to the increased chances of misfires. You can still use
the keyboard to insert the entry. Type the first few characters of your
entry and then press F3. If after pressing F3 nothing happens, note your
status bar. If the characters you typed are not unique or if it's not a
valid Building Block name it will be notated.

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email cannot be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Coauthor of Word 2007 Inside Out:
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9801.aspx#AboutTheBook

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/
 
S

steve f

I have been searching in vain for this feature, too. Auto-Text with the
screen tip "Press Enter to Insert" was so handy. I'm not sure I understand
the "increased chances of misfires." It was pretty simple and didn't misfire
on me by pushing enter as opposed to F3. Plus, the old way seems more
intuitive and shorter -- Outlook is suggesting, not waiting for us to ask. I
hope they add that feature back in. I think it was a mistake to delete it.
 
B

Beth Melton

Personally I disagree with the rationale, the increased number of Building
Blocks added by default would increase the chances of the AutoComplete tip
to display unnecessarily. I do know there have been many requests to add it
back so we'll have to cross our fingers and see.

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email cannot be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Coauthor of Word 2007 Inside Out:
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9801.aspx#AboutTheBook

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/
 
H

Herb Tyson [MVP]

A nice compromise--IMO--would be to add a per-BB entry option "Allow
AutoComplete". By default, the 200+ "Built-In" items would have AutoComplete
turned off, while user-added AutoText items would have AutoComplete turned
on by default.
 
K

Konge

Auto text was an absolute god send, I sincerly hope that they make the
changes to bring it back as it was before, as using the ribbons seems
cumbersome and time consuming.
 
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