The Mini toolbar is a floating window which automatically pops up whenever you highlight text. Initially all the options it contains are conveniently dimmed. However, as soon as you position the cursor over its controls, the Mini toolbar becomes activated.
It contains a number of options for formatting your text. All of these options can be found in the Home tab of the Word Ribbon. The top row of icons allows you to change the font, size and colour of our text and also contains Word's nifty Format Painter. The Format Painter allows you to copy the format of the selected text to other areas of your document.
The second row of the Mini toolbar has buttons for making text bold, italic, centre aligned. It also has tools for changing the colour of the highlighted text, indenting text and converting your text to bullet points.
In short, the Mini toolbar offers a very convenient way of quickly formatting your text without having to go back to the Ribbon to find the options you're looking for. However, there may be times when you will find it inconvenient. This is particularly likely when using the drag-and-drop facility within Microsoft Word.
This feature allows you to highlight text and simply drag it to a new location. However, just as you are about to drag, it's very easy for the cursor to collide with the Mini toolbar and instead of dragging your text, you simply change its format.
Each Word user can decide for himself or herself whether they like the Mini toolbar facility. If you decide it is more of a hindrance than a help, Word allows you to deactivate the Mini toolbar facility. From the Office button, select Word Options. In the Popular category, the very first option is labelled "Show Mini Toolbar on selection". If you have had enough of the Mini toolbar, simply uncheck this option. Now, whenever you highlight text, that pesky Mini toolbar will not appear.
Even if you have asked Word not to show the Mini toolbar, it is still possible to display it by simply right-clicking on selected text. - 16003
It contains a number of options for formatting your text. All of these options can be found in the Home tab of the Word Ribbon. The top row of icons allows you to change the font, size and colour of our text and also contains Word's nifty Format Painter. The Format Painter allows you to copy the format of the selected text to other areas of your document.
The second row of the Mini toolbar has buttons for making text bold, italic, centre aligned. It also has tools for changing the colour of the highlighted text, indenting text and converting your text to bullet points.
In short, the Mini toolbar offers a very convenient way of quickly formatting your text without having to go back to the Ribbon to find the options you're looking for. However, there may be times when you will find it inconvenient. This is particularly likely when using the drag-and-drop facility within Microsoft Word.
This feature allows you to highlight text and simply drag it to a new location. However, just as you are about to drag, it's very easy for the cursor to collide with the Mini toolbar and instead of dragging your text, you simply change its format.
Each Word user can decide for himself or herself whether they like the Mini toolbar facility. If you decide it is more of a hindrance than a help, Word allows you to deactivate the Mini toolbar facility. From the Office button, select Word Options. In the Popular category, the very first option is labelled "Show Mini Toolbar on selection". If you have had enough of the Mini toolbar, simply uncheck this option. Now, whenever you highlight text, that pesky Mini toolbar will not appear.
Even if you have asked Word not to show the Mini toolbar, it is still possible to display it by simply right-clicking on selected text. - 16003
About the Author:
The The writer of this article is a training consultant with Macresource Computer Solutions, a UK IT training company offering Microsoft Word training courses at their central London training centre.
