0.3 Import microsoft word or openoffice documents  (Page 2/5)

Alternatively, you can install the template file into Word so that it is available through the New option in the Word File menu. Instructions to install this template are specific to your version of Word, so we recommend that you consult Word's Help feature if you wish to do so.

Applying styles to an existing document

If you already have a document that you wish to import, you will need to apply the template styles to the document. To apply the template to an existing document, first open that document in Word. Then, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Tools menu and click Templates and Add-Ins .
2. Click the Attach button, and use the file browser to navigate to the folder where you saved the template file.
3. Select the "Connexions_Document.dot" icon in that folder and click Open .
4. In the “Templates and Add-Ins” window, make sure the “Automatically Update document styles” box is checked and click Ok . ( Figure 1 )

As an alternative, you can also create a new blank document with the Word Importer template styles as described in "Creating a New Document with the Template" . Once you have done so, you can copy and paste the text from your original document into the new blank document as follows. Go to the Edit menu in the original Word document and select the Select All option. Then go to the Edit menu in the original Word document again and select the Copy option. This copies the text of the original document to your system clipboard. Next, go to the Edit menu in the new blank Word document with the Word Importer template styles and select the Paste option. The text of the original document is now copied into your new document, and you can begin modifying it with Word Importer style information as described in the next section.

Using styles in microsoft word

If you are using Microsoft Word 97, you can find the style drop-down box on your format toolbar at the top of the screen (it usually displays the default style Heading 1 or Normal ). In newer versions of Word the style menu is located under the "Home" tab. Click the pop-out icon in the lower right corner of the Styles menu to see a list of all styles.

To apply a style to a specific piece of text, you follow the instructions below:

1. Highlight the word, phrase, or paragraph you want to semantically mark up.
2. Locate the styles menu.
3. Click the name of the semantic style you want to apply to the highlighted text. The text that was highlighted is automatically given the style you selected.

Preparing documents in openoffice writer

Download a copy of the document template (*.dot) .

You may also want to download a copy of a sample document (*.doc) that has been prepared to properly exercise all the features of the template. We encourage you to have a look at the document and practice uploading it (see "Uploading Your Document" below) to get a feel for how the Word import process works.

Creating a new document with the template

To create a new document in OpenOffice Writer to import into Connexions, download and open either the template or the sample document from above. In OpenOffice Writer go to the File menu and select Save As . In the "Save As" dialog box that appears make sure that "Word Document (*.doc)" or "Word 97-2003 (*.doc)" appears in the Save as Type drop-down box. Give your document a unique name in the File Name box, and click the Save button. You have now created a new document with the template styles included in it. Delete the default text from the template and begin typing your document, adding styles as you go as described below .