How to REALLY use Microsoft Word: Styles, Multilevel Lists, and Outline View

In this video we talk about the mystery of Microsoft Word Styles as it relates to Multi-level lists and linking it all to Outline View Levels

[@creepy99]

I actually owned this feature when it shipped in the 90s. I would suggest that the faster way to do this is to apply the default Heading 1, Heading 2, etc. styles and then modify those styles' formatting to look like you want. That way all the plumbing is already set up for list level, etc... all you need to do is to make it look pretty.
Also, there's a keyboard shortcut to promote/demote list level aka change the list level up and down by pressing ++ (promote) and ++ (demote). Simple example... you type your first main heading and you want to apply Heading 1 style to it. Put the cursor in that paragraph and press ++. Done.

[@shanselman]

awesome!!!

[@nburaq]

Always high quality classy content.Thanks again!

[@DenatusDotCom]

Another great video about Word. I love how you break down the problem into smaller pieces and solve them one by one, explaining as you go.

[@shanselman]

Glad it was helpful!

[@DwayneSelsig]

Thank you, Scott, for the informative video! I've experienced some challenges using Copilot with Microsoft Word, particularly when it came to integrating my company's specific formatting. It became clear after reviewing our document templates where the problem lay. While Microsoft is concentrating on security, encouraging us to carefully check document permissions, I think there's also a need to focus on the visual aspects of document creation. Microsoft should also offer guidance on ensuring that Office templates (not just those for Word) meet company branding standards. This would help Copilot produce secure and beautiful documents (and presentations).

[@cathychoi6959]

So glad I watched this high-quality tutorial!!!thank you

[@dnwheeler]

I wish there was some way to prevent users from randomly formatting or indenting text without using styles. It can take hours to fix a document that someone has manually formatted and indented. For business documents, official templates should be defined and used for all documents of the same type.

[@kylejdoyle]

The UA-cam thumbnail face on this one... A+

[@pandie_me]

All I can say is, thank you. 🙏

[@Mygoogleaccount-gr2qf]

Thanks alot

[@maradasa985]

Great vid Scott, as always, next one should be about how to create those thumbnails and how it affects the algorithm XD

[@shanselman]

😂

[@NazmusLabs]

Thank you! I have been trying to figure this out since my freshman year in high school 😅
I loved the outline workflow, but as soon as I would switch to the print layout, it would all look wrong.
May Allah (S.W.T.) bestow upon you His Blessings and Guidance; Ameen.

[@Mary-g2j6h]

Scott, if you use the styles in the list, such as H1 and H2, anywhere else in your document, will it automatically create a multi-level list?

[@NeoChromer]

Hey @shanselman could you please talk to someone to improve the performance of windows 11 ?

[@LewisCowles]

What is the use-case for this? I Feel like I just found out how to do something, that I've no idea why I would do?

[@shanselman]

The used case is when creating documents that are 30 to 100 pages long, huge dissertations or novels, to be able to step back and collapse their outlines

[@terrakio]

😮

[@DonReba]

I wish Microsoft thought this was how to use Word, but the "styles" functionality and the UI for it has not changed since 2007, at least. It has tons of very frustrating limitations.

[@LordHog]

Just give me Office 97, it all one needs. No fancy ribbon interface and no additional fluff

[@Makumbi]

When the ribbon came out, it was Scott who schooled me that changes in office and windows weren't targeted for older users but rather to drive adoption in newer users. It hurt but at least there was/is a reason.

[@krccmsitp2884]

@@Makumbi It would've been great to have the choice between the two.

[@Makumbi]

@@krccmsitp2884true. Even the option not to upgrade has been taken.

[@NazmusLabs]

@@krccmsitp2884I have found a way to sort of re-implement Office 2003 style UI in the latest version of office, by the help of Allah (A.W.J.). It honestly looks gorgeous, is compact, and easy to use, Alhamdulillah.
I can share it if you are interested…
May Allah (S.W.T.) guide you and bestow upon you His Blessings; Ameen.

[@tj2375]

I might be wrong but I think Office 97 already had the concepts shown here, just the UI was a little different.

[@gower1973]

I really wish Microsoft would stop cluttering up the applications with these useless UI, its like the last twenty years never happened, three toolbars at the top of the screen, a crap ton of icons in horizontal and vertical and of different sizes, old and new ui dialogs randomly all over the shop, what a nightmare

[@tj2375]

That's why Microsoft Word is a horrible program. The fundamental concepts to work efficiently are hidden in a way no one knows about them and what is accessible to the user is endlessly manually formatting.

[@StuartSands]

Not at all. This is why you take a little time to learn your tools - whatever they may be.