Make word stop screwing up

[jmdraft]

Typing replaces text


I didn’t set it to do that
But as usual, piece of crap
that it is, it did it to itself.
How do i make it stop?
And if possible, make it impossible for it to change itself permanently

[Charles Kenyon]

Word is a complex program despite Microsoft trying to make it easy. They make it look easy.


Spend some time learning to use it, just as you would take time to learn how to use any other new tool.


Check your Word advanced options. Do you have either of these boxes checked?

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Those control the feature you are discussing and should both be unchecked.


Unfortunately, because Word is so complex a real user's manual would take up a bookshelf, and not a small one. Instead MS relies on its help system. That, in turn, relies on the user knowing the jargon.


When I type "typing replaces text" in Help, I do get help, but it is not all that obvious.

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[jmdraft]

Thanks Charles

The only Options I see is under tools and I don’t see Advanced. Where is it...........under what?

[jmdraft]

PS

I’ve had it since it was first released and it’s always done crap like this. I’ve been lately trying to determine how is the best way to buy the latest version..........any suggestions?


It’s about like all the other messes:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-F...ew?usp=sharing

[jmdraft]

I’ve been screwing around with computers since the early 60s: http://geriatricgourmet.com/files/B_rfink_Bunker.pdf
And I’m just as befuddled as ever.

[jmdraft]

Wife is calling. I'll get back to this later

[Charles Kenyon]

Sorry, I didn't notice that you were on Word 2003.

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Help is even more cryptic.

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[Charles Kenyon]

Had you typed "overtype mode" into Word's help, you would have found this:

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And, as of Word 2016, there is no way to completely turn this off. Checking the boxes helps.

[jmdraft]

My fault, I should have specified 2003. In hope that maybe a newer version might be more stable, I’m trying to figure out what would be the best way to buy it. Any suggestions?
And or, the screw-ups were in some docs I had saved awhile back. I just opened a new word and it’s Ok. Is there a way to make this permanent?

[Charles Kenyon]

As far as which version to use, unless you have a reason to change, stick with what you know. The later versions have more features, but you will be facing a substantial learning task.

[jmdraft]

OK thanks,

I certainly don’t want a lot of new goofy doodles that the Microsoft gnomes can sneak into my computer and screw up. Maybe I’ll get the new version eventually, put it in another commuter an compare the two. Thanks a lot for your help................and saving me money on the new version.

[Charles Kenyon]

Originally Posted by jmdraft

In hope that maybe a newer version might be more stable, I’m trying to figure out what would be the best way to buy it. Any suggestions?


And or, the screw-ups were in some docs I had saved awhile back. I just opened a new word and it’s Ok. Is there a way to make this permanent?

This is not a document option. It applies to the application as a whole.
Unchecking both boxes will go a long way.



Other than that keep your eye on the OVR in the status bar. If you double-click on that, it will toggle the setting for overtype. Black means it is checked.


I have learned to really like the newer versions of Word. However it was a painful couple of months learning to use it. The documents are pretty much the same, but the placement of commands and options takes getting used to.


You can get a free trial of Office 365. I would recommend doing it on a new computer because:

1) it will not work on anything lower than Windows 7 and soon that will change to Windows 10.
2) it is a fairly intrusive installation and will try to remove any prior versions of Office. It is simpler to try it out and then if you don't like it uninstall and then reinstall your Office 2003. Note Office 2003 is not approved for use on Windows 10 but Word and Excel do work (not sure about Outlook, but I would not want to use Outlook 2003 anyway.)


Given that at some point you would probably want a one-time purchase rather than subscription version, you can look online for retailers selling Office 2016 or 2013. Because Office 2019 has already been announced for release this fall, there are some very hefty discounts being offered. The free 30-day trial, though, is only available for the subscription version. It comes pre-installed on many new computers.

[jmdraft]

Charles,

I very much appreciate your patience and concern. I’m somewhat a Luddite ever since my computer beginnings in the NATO War Room, Germany – 60s. Normally, when I have computer questions, I just ask some little kid as they know so much more about it than I ever will.

My Word is very erratic, sometimes opening and closing 15 – 20 docs at lightening speed. I try to figure out which these are and delete them. What I have done now: I have saved a copy that is not screwed-up and named it Word OK. So from now on, I’ll open this one and save it as whatever I’m doing at the time. I have the original Office 2003 CD. So I’ve considered uninstalling and reinstalling Word to see if that helps this mess. OH boy, all the cyber crap and software creators are lucky that I am not some omnipotent being................I would probably start with mass castration and eventually Guillotine with vultures lurking above to clean up the mess.

My mother, the Radar O'Reilly of Texas Instruments, knew Jack Kilby (invented the chip) and he once commented to her “Bunny (mother’s nickname) these damned computers will be the ruination of us all!”

I guess I’d best get back to trying to do something useful today.

[Charles Kenyon]

It is easy to recognize the pioneers. They are the ones with the arrows in their backs!

[macropod]

jmdraft, you penchant for throwing brickbats at MS/Word

But as usual, piece of crap

it’s always done crap like this

goofy doodles that the Microsoft gnomes can sneak into my computer and screw up

for what appears to be an error between your seat & keyboard:

I’m just as befuddled as ever

does you no credit...