Documents

A document is the name given to a Word file and has the file extension (".docx") and is made up of one of more pages.
A Word document can be divided into four categories:
Document - A document contains one or more sections.
Sections - A section contains one or more pages
Pages - A page contains one or more paragraphs
Paragraphs - A paragraph contains one or more characters and a paragraph mark.
Characters - A characeter is a single letter or number. The paragraph mark is a character.
Each one of the these components has specific formatting associated with it.

Word can be used to produce letters, reports, faxes, brochures, newsletters etc.
You can also use templates to help design consistent looking pages easily.
Every time Word is started a new blank page in a new document will be created.
The default naming convention for documents is Document1, Document2, etc.

Using the Control Buttons

When you open Word there are actually two separate windows.
Both of these windows have what are called control menus.
The icon in the top left corner is known as the control menu and the three buttons in the top right hand corner provide shortcuts for commands on this menu.
You can also display the control menu by pressing the left mouse button on the icon in the top left corner.

The outside window is the Title Bar or Application Window.
This window displays the name of the application and the name of the active document.

The document name will only have a file extension once it has been saved.
Minimise - Word is reduced to a button on the taskbar.
Restore - Restores the application window to its original size before it was maximised or minimised.
Maximise - Increases the size of the Word window to fill the whole screen.
Close - Closes Word completely.

The inside window is the Menu Bar or Document Window.

Minimise - Document is reduced to a small icon within Word.
Restore - Restores the document window to its original size before it was maximised or minimised.
Maximise - Document is increased to fill the whole application window. When the window is maximised this button changes to restore.
Close - Closes the active document.
The Minimise and Restore buttons are only displayed when your (Tools > Options)(View tab, Windows in Taskbar) option is not checked.

Options

(File Locations tab, Documents) - Lets you change the default folder used by the (File > Open) and (File > Save As) dialog boxes.
(General tab, Update automatic links at open - Automatically prompts to update any links to other files or fields linked to external data sources.
(General tab, Recently used files list) - Lets you change the number of documents displayed at the bottom of the File menu.
(User Information tab, Name) - Lets you enter your username. This will automatically appear in the (File > Properties)(Summary tab) when you create a new document. It enabled you to keep track of who creates the document.

Important

You can also use the shortcut key (Shift + F12) to save a document.
You can also use the shortcut key (Ctrl + F12) to display the (File > Open) dialog box.
It is possible to go back to the text you were working on before you closed the document last. Press (Shift + F5) as soon as the document is open.
After long periods of time writing or editing a document, save and close Word completely and reopen it. This will allow Word to tidy up all its temporary files that it has created whilst you have been busy working.
A document contains one or more sections.
A section contains zero or more paragraphs.