Somehow I managed to set up a couple of keyboard shortcuts
in Word.




I don't know what I did, but I'd like to set up similar shortcuts now.


When I looked into the Macros section there were no macros assigned, so that is not what I did.


Currently when I press Ctrl-Shift-b I get highlighted text to appear Blue in color.
Similarly if I press Ctrl-Shift-k I get highlighted text to appear Black in color.


Can you please tell me how I can continue in this fashion (without macros)?

See Assigning Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Word 2007-2024 (365) - Microsoft Community.
You might have to use character styles which can use keyboard shortcuts. However, you would want to use shading rather than highlighting.
See also Create a List of Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Word.

Thanks Charles.
I know you are trying to be helpful, but the links you have provided
are way too deep/complicated for my situation.


I don't want to study this for hours trying to figure it all out.


As I said, somehow a year or so ago I managed to add a couple of keyboard shortcuts in Word (mentioned in my OP).


I would like to get in there to wherever this info is stored and study it.
Then either make changes to it or add a few more shortcuts.
That's all.

Start with figuring out what the command you have actually does, that is, which command/action it is assigned to.

In Word, click File > Options. In the Word Options dialog box, click Customize Ribbon > Customize to display the Customize Keyboard dialog box. These are steps (A) and (B) in the attached screen shot.

Click in the "Press new shortcut key" box and then type the keyboard shortcut you have been using (step C).

You will see the associated command in the "Current keys" box (step D).

Attached Images

CustomizeKeyboardDialogBox.png (280.5 KB, 10 views)

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Thanks for helping out Stefan.


I followed your instructions and this is what it said when I pressed Ctrl-Shft-b:

Currently assigned to "blue"


and when I pressed Ctrl-Shft-k:

Currently assigned to "black"


Which makes perfect sense because that is what happens after I highlight some text and press Ctrl-Shft-b etc. The color of the text turns blue/black.


Could you please tell me how I could start from scratch and make these settings that I somehow did?
I don't know how I did it.

The only way I can think of that you did this was to record macros and assign those shortcuts. Word does not have commands "blue" or "black." When recording a macro, you can press the button for a keyboard shortcut, in which case you get a dialog like this:

From the descriptions given by the OP it seems more likely to be a couple of character styles.

Thanks Italophile.
I would be inclined to agree with you because when I open the Macros
dialogue there are no macros set.


Could you please tell me how I could get into the character styles to check this?

Any styles would be listed in the Styles Pane. That assumes you have it set to display all styles.

Thanks again Charles for your help.
While I was waiting for a reply I investigated Styles and was able to create a few that appear in the Styles menu (under Home Menu).


They work fine. After selecting the text I want highlighted I can then just select
the appropriate Style and the color changes.


However, being the curious person that I am, I still would like to know HOW I managed to get the following key sequences to change selected text to blue and black:


Ctrl-Shft-b (blue)
Ctrl-Shft-k (black)


Notice there is no Alt+H.
And there are no macros listed in Word.

Does anyone know:
1. How I could have accomplished this?
2. Where I could find the settings that show these key assignments (for blue/black)?

Since Word does not have commands "blue" or "black" they must be something you created.

I suggested macro names before, but I guess you could have named styles "black" and "blue."
In the assign keyboard shortcut dialog you could look under both Styles and Macros for the names.


If you want someone to tell you whether your are working with custom styles or macros, you could create a sample document where they were used and post it here.

Attach a Sample File Demonstrating the Problem - Here's How
The sample document may have highlighting rather than shading or may have styles you are not seeing.

I think you will have to share a screen shot with us, so that we can see what you see. It would help us diagnose this in detail.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Stefan, I think you are responding to: A screenshot of what?


Can you think of anything it could be besides Style names or Macro names?

Exactly Charles.


After playing around with the Styles I have been able to create two keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl-Shft-b and Ctrl-Shft-k) that will change highlighted text to blue and black respectively.


But this is on a second computer.


On my original computer where I first set this up I did NOT use a Style nor a Macro to achieve this.


How do I know?
Because when I look at Macros, none are listed.
And when I look at the Styles there are no 'blue' nor 'black' styles.


You ask for screenshots. As Charles says, screenshots of what?


I'm assuming the shortcuts have been saved in normal.dotm somewhere.
How can I examine this file to see if they are there?


I'm sure this isn't rocket science. The shortcuts work. But where are they stored under?

Charles, I think a screen shot of the Customize Keyboard dialog box would be a good start.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional