Using Two Characters as a Drop Cap

Want to add drop caps to your layout? They can provide a nice, appealing design element, but how you actually create the drop caps can be critical to your success.

Read this tip »

(Thanks to Denny Jansen, Jos Graindor, Galen Currah, Angie Smith, Peter Thomas, Colin McCart, Harold Druss, Skip Nicholson, and Dave Pridgeon for contributing to this tip.)

Getting Identical Margins

Need to get the margins on your document exactly right? It can be a challenge to get the Word settings where you need them and then wrestle with the printer so it does what you expect. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Read this tip »

WordTips—At Your Fingertips!

Support WordTips and obtain a valuable resource by grabbing your own copies of the WordTips Archives. Visit the Website for complete info.

Adding Line Numbers

Many types of documents, such as legal documents, require the use of line numbers to make it easier to identify specific locations in the document. Here's how you can add line numbers to your documents.

Read this tip »

Preserving Style Formatting when Combining Documents

Insert one document into another and you may not get the results you expect. Here's why, along with what you can do about it.

Read this tip »

Getting Rid of Spaces in Merged Data

When you merge information with a Word document, you may not be completely satisfied with the appearance of some of the merged information. For instance, a merge field may include spaces within the information that you would rather remove. Here's a couple of ways you can get rid of those spaces.

Read this tip »

Mass Search and Replace

If you need to change information in dozens or even hundreds of documents, the task can seem insurmountable. Here's a way you can let a macro do the work of making changes in any number of documents you may have.

Read this tip »

This section is for those having problems making Word behave. If Word is giving you fits, feel free to submit your own Help Wanted question.

If you have a solution for the problems below, click the link after the problem to send us your answer. (All responses become the sole property of Sharon Parq Associates, Inc., and can be used in any way deemed appropriate.) If your response is used in a future issue, you will be credited for your contribution to the answer.

Cannot Combine Two Tables

The normal way to combine two tables is to remove all the empty paragraphs between those tables. Sometimes, though, this doesn't work. Visually they almost look like they are combined, but table properties and control are definitely separate. (For instance, I can see the table selector at the top corner of the second table.) Is there a way to force recalcitrant tables to actually combine?
—Mark Robinson (provide an answer for this Help Wanted question)