I have recently been involved in preparing several documents using Track
Changes, zapping documents back and forth via Outlook till we were satisfied
with the results. All of a sudden, my standard default settings on Word
changed so that instead of having Ariel font 10 as my normal font, I now have
a drop down menu showing Normal + Courier, Heading 1, 2, 3 etc and font 12.
When I type anything and amend its size etc, this appears as a new option on
this drop down menu. I guess this must be something to do with me using
Track Changes and maybe Windows XP, trying to be 'helpful' has amended my
settings.

I don't want it like this! I want to set up my Word settings so that I can
have my old view back, with a choice of Font types available in the menu bar
rather than via format/font, with Ariel as the default setting, and can
change my font size myself instead of having the computer tell me what I can
and can't do! I just can't see anywhere in the Windows help pages how to get
rid of this annoying feature. Please advise.

Difficult to understand what your problem is from this description, but my
guess is that you have acquired a check mark in tools options edit
keep track of formatting.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org



Gill wrote:
I have recently been involved in preparing several documents using
Track Changes, zapping documents back and forth via Outlook till we
were satisfied with the results. All of a sudden, my standard default
settings on Word changed so that instead of having Ariel font 10 as
my normal font, I now have a drop down menu showing Normal + Courier,
Heading 1, 2, 3 etc and font 12. When I type anything and amend its
size etc, this appears as a new option on this drop down menu. I
guess this must be something to do with me using Track Changes and
maybe Windows XP, trying to be 'helpful' has amended my settings.

I don't want it like this! I want to set up my Word settings so that
I can have my old view back, with a choice of Font types available in
the menu bar rather than via format/font, with Ariel as the default
setting, and can change my font size myself instead of having the
computer tell me what I can and can't do! I just can't see anywhere
in the Windows help pages how to get rid of this annoying feature.
Please advise.

Do you have a default printer installed?

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


"Gill" wrote in message
...
I have recently been involved in preparing several documents using
Track
Changes, zapping documents back and forth via Outlook till we were
satisfied
with the results. All of a sudden, my standard default settings on
Word
changed so that instead of having Ariel font 10 as my normal font, I
now have
a drop down menu showing Normal + Courier, Heading 1, 2, 3 etc and
font 12.
When I type anything and amend its size etc, this appears as a new
option on
this drop down menu. I guess this must be something to do with me
using
Track Changes and maybe Windows XP, trying to be 'helpful' has
amended my
settings.

I don't want it like this! I want to set up my Word settings so that
I can
have my old view back, with a choice of Font types available in the
menu bar
rather than via format/font, with Ariel as the default setting, and
can
change my font size myself instead of having the computer tell me
what I can
and can't do! I just can't see anywhere in the Windows help pages
how to get
rid of this annoying feature. Please advise.

In answer to Stefan, yes. See above to answer to Graham's suggestion.

"Stefan Blom" wrote:

Do you have a default printer installed?

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


"Gill" wrote in message
...
I have recently been involved in preparing several documents using
Track
Changes, zapping documents back and forth via Outlook till we were
satisfied
with the results. All of a sudden, my standard default settings on
Word
changed so that instead of having Ariel font 10 as my normal font, I
now have
a drop down menu showing Normal + Courier, Heading 1, 2, 3 etc and
font 12.
When I type anything and amend its size etc, this appears as a new
option on
this drop down menu. I guess this must be something to do with me
using
Track Changes and maybe Windows XP, trying to be 'helpful' has
amended my
settings.

I don't want it like this! I want to set up my Word settings so that
I can
have my old view back, with a choice of Font types available in the
menu bar
rather than via format/font, with Ariel as the default setting, and
can
change my font size myself instead of having the computer tell me
what I can
and can't do! I just can't see anywhere in the Windows help pages
how to get
rid of this annoying feature. Please advise.

well, Graham, thanks very much for your input and you are right, I did have a
check mark against that setting, but it hasn't solved the problem.

Basically, for normal, everyday use (rather than editing documents using
track changes), in my Formatting Toolbar, I now have what I have just found
out is a Style and Formatting Task Pane - which is where these annoying 'I
know better than you do' options appear. I don't want to use it, I just want
to use the standard formatting tools - i.e. a nice little drop down box with
the different fonts in it from which I can choose, rather than a box which
simply shows 'normal', heading 1, heading 2 etc. Apart from anything else, :
a. I use different fonts depending on the type of document I am typing, so
there is no such thing as 'normal';
b. the default settings in the S & F TP is not the one I want to use and I
can't for the life of me figure out how to change this and
c. I like to take control of my own formatting, not have the PC do it for me.

Thanks in anticipation!

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

Difficult to understand what your problem is from this description, but my
guess is that you have acquired a check mark in tools options edit
keep track of formatting.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org



Gill wrote:
I have recently been involved in preparing several documents using
Track Changes, zapping documents back and forth via Outlook till we
were satisfied with the results. All of a sudden, my standard default
settings on Word changed so that instead of having Ariel font 10 as
my normal font, I now have a drop down menu showing Normal + Courier,
Heading 1, 2, 3 etc and font 12. When I type anything and amend its
size etc, this appears as a new option on this drop down menu. I
guess this must be something to do with me using Track Changes and
maybe Windows XP, trying to be 'helpful' has amended my settings.

I don't want it like this! I want to set up my Word settings so that
I can have my old view back, with a choice of Font types available in
the menu bar rather than via format/font, with Ariel as the default
setting, and can change my font size myself instead of having the
computer tell me what I can and can't do! I just can't see anywhere
in the Windows help pages how to get rid of this annoying feature.
Please advise.

Are you saying that the Font box is missing from your Formatting
toolbar? In Tools | Customize (Toolbars tab), try to Reset the
toolbar. If that doesn't work, see
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/apperrors/MissingMenusEtc.htm.

If you are not familiar with templates and styles, you may also want
to take a look at the following articles:

Creating a Template – The Basics (Part I)
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customizat...platePart1.htm

Tips for understanding Microsoft Word styles
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/styl...sOnStyles.html

Why use Microsoft Word's built-in heading styles?
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numb...ingStyles.html

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


"Gill" wrote in message
...
well, Graham, thanks very much for your input and you are right, I
did have a
check mark against that setting, but it hasn't solved the problem.

Basically, for normal, everyday use (rather than editing documents
using
track changes), in my Formatting Toolbar, I now have what I have
just found
out is a Style and Formatting Task Pane - which is where these
annoying 'I
know better than you do' options appear. I don't want to use it, I
just want
to use the standard formatting tools - i.e. a nice little drop down
box with
the different fonts in it from which I can choose, rather than a box
which
simply shows 'normal', heading 1, heading 2 etc. Apart from anything
else, :
a. I use different fonts depending on the type of document I am
typing, so
there is no such thing as 'normal';
b. the default settings in the S & F TP is not the one I want to use
and I
can't for the life of me figure out how to change this and
c. I like to take control of my own formatting, not have the PC do
it for me.

Thanks in anticipation!

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

Difficult to understand what your problem is from this
description, but my
guess is that you have acquired a check mark in tools options
edit
keep track of formatting.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org



Gill wrote:
I have recently been involved in preparing several documents
using
Track Changes, zapping documents back and forth via Outlook till
we
were satisfied with the results. All of a sudden, my standard
default
settings on Word changed so that instead of having Ariel font 10
as
my normal font, I now have a drop down menu showing Normal +
Courier,
Heading 1, 2, 3 etc and font 12. When I type anything and amend
its
size etc, this appears as a new option on this drop down menu.
I
guess this must be something to do with me using Track Changes
and
maybe Windows XP, trying to be 'helpful' has amended my
settings.

I don't want it like this! I want to set up my Word settings so
that
I can have my old view back, with a choice of Font types
available in
the menu bar rather than via format/font, with Ariel as the
default
setting, and can change my font size myself instead of having
the
computer tell me what I can and can't do! I just can't see
anywhere
in the Windows help pages how to get rid of this annoying
feature.
Please advise.

I'm still not 100% certain what you are asking here. Word is a style based
application. *All* text in the document will be formatted with a style - by
default the 'normal' style. You cannot avoid styles and you would do well to
learn how to take advantage of them.

You can apply manual formatting to text (if you must) but this makes
re-editing documents complicated. To this end there are several tools on the
formatting toolbar, including the 'font' picking tool, which is what you may
be trying to describe as missing.

From tools customize options put check marks in 'Show standard and
formatting toolbars on two rows' and 'Always show full menus' which will
give you enough real estate on screen to display the toolbars in full.

You don't even have to use the formatting task pane. Replace that toolbar
command with the older FormatStyle command from the all commands set (Tools
customize commands).

If you don't want Word to second guess your formatting requirements -
uncheck just about everything in tools autocorrect options autoformat as
you type - especially the 'Define styles based on your formatting'.

Finally in the format style dialog, ensure that 'automatically update' is
not checked.


--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


Gill wrote:
well, Graham, thanks very much for your input and you are right, I
did have a check mark against that setting, but it hasn't solved the
problem.

Basically, for normal, everyday use (rather than editing documents
using track changes), in my Formatting Toolbar, I now have what I
have just found out is a Style and Formatting Task Pane - which is
where these annoying 'I know better than you do' options appear. I
don't want to use it, I just want to use the standard formatting
tools - i.e. a nice little drop down box with the different fonts in
it from which I can choose, rather than a box which simply shows
'normal', heading 1, heading 2 etc. Apart from anything else, : a. I
use different fonts depending on the type of document I am typing, so
there is no such thing as 'normal';
b. the default settings in the S & F TP is not the one I want to use
and I can't for the life of me figure out how to change this and
c. I like to take control of my own formatting, not have the PC do it
for me.

Thanks in anticipation!

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

Difficult to understand what your problem is from this description,
but my guess is that you have acquired a check mark in tools
options edit keep track of formatting.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org



Gill wrote:
I have recently been involved in preparing several documents using
Track Changes, zapping documents back and forth via Outlook till we
were satisfied with the results. All of a sudden, my standard
default settings on Word changed so that instead of having Ariel
font 10 as my normal font, I now have a drop down menu showing
Normal + Courier, Heading 1, 2, 3 etc and font 12. When I type
anything and amend its size etc, this appears as a new option on
this drop down menu. I guess this must be something to do with me
using Track Changes and maybe Windows XP, trying to be 'helpful'
has amended my settings.

I don't want it like this! I want to set up my Word settings so that
I can have my old view back, with a choice of Font types available
in the menu bar rather than via format/font, with Ariel as the
default setting, and can change my font size myself instead of
having the computer tell me what I can and can't do! I just can't
see anywhere in the Windows help pages how to get rid of this
annoying feature. Please advise.

well, it just goes to show, you should always check the obvious first, before
getting too complicated. I have been struggling with this for some time now
and have just sent a screen dump of my Word screen to a pal - who immediately
suggested I drag the formatting bar on to the line below - when miraculously
the missing 'font' box appeared.

Doh. I hadn't thought of that..........

To be fair, Stefan's suggestion that it might be the 'font' box that was
missing put me on the right track, so many thanks for all your help. Glad I
didn't go interfering with too many settings first though!

"Stefan Blom" wrote:

Are you saying that the Font box is missing from your Formatting
toolbar? In Tools | Customize (Toolbars tab), try to Reset the
toolbar. If that doesn't work, see
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/apperrors/MissingMenusEtc.htm.

If you are not familiar with templates and styles, you may also want
to take a look at the following articles:

Creating a Template €“ The Basics (Part I)
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customizat...platePart1.htm

Tips for understanding Microsoft Word styles
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/styl...sOnStyles.html

Why use Microsoft Word's built-in heading styles?
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/numb...ingStyles.html

--
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP


"Gill" wrote in message
...
well, Graham, thanks very much for your input and you are right, I
did have a
check mark against that setting, but it hasn't solved the problem.

Basically, for normal, everyday use (rather than editing documents
using
track changes), in my Formatting Toolbar, I now have what I have
just found
out is a Style and Formatting Task Pane - which is where these
annoying 'I
know better than you do' options appear. I don't want to use it, I
just want
to use the standard formatting tools - i.e. a nice little drop down
box with
the different fonts in it from which I can choose, rather than a box
which
simply shows 'normal', heading 1, heading 2 etc. Apart from anything
else, :
a. I use different fonts depending on the type of document I am
typing, so
there is no such thing as 'normal';
b. the default settings in the S & F TP is not the one I want to use
and I
can't for the life of me figure out how to change this and
c. I like to take control of my own formatting, not have the PC do
it for me.

Thanks in anticipation!

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

Difficult to understand what your problem is from this
description, but my
guess is that you have acquired a check mark in tools options
edit
keep track of formatting.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org



Gill wrote:
I have recently been involved in preparing several documents
using
Track Changes, zapping documents back and forth via Outlook till
we
were satisfied with the results. All of a sudden, my standard
default
settings on Word changed so that instead of having Ariel font 10
as
my normal font, I now have a drop down menu showing Normal +
Courier,
Heading 1, 2, 3 etc and font 12. When I type anything and amend
its
size etc, this appears as a new option on this drop down menu.
I
guess this must be something to do with me using Track Changes
and
maybe Windows XP, trying to be 'helpful' has amended my
settings.

I don't want it like this! I want to set up my Word settings so
that
I can have my old view back, with a choice of Font types
available in
the menu bar rather than via format/font, with Ariel as the
default
setting, and can change my font size myself instead of having
the
computer tell me what I can and can't do! I just can't see
anywhere
in the Windows help pages how to get rid of this annoying
feature.
Please advise.