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Microsoft Word Outlines
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Posted by psfran
Jan 20, 2010 at 12:19 AM
I am keen to use outline mode to keep my thesis structure on track but when I print (say at level 3) I get a whole lot of body text overprinting on it. I see from a web search that this is a known issue when using quick print, but it happens when I use the print dialogue too. Has anyone come across this?
By the way, if I can get this to work my plan is to modify Heading 4 to something like 12 Times Ital for key comments, such as intro and summary paras. I will then set the outline to level 4 and print my headings and key comments in a few easy to navigate pages. Hopefully that will help me maintain the flow of the argument better.
Cheers,
Peter
Posted by Lucas
Jan 20, 2010 at 02:26 PM
For the record, since moritz listed some of the major outlining features that Word lacks, there is also the limit of nine outline levels. As I wrote in October:
Unlike dedicated outliners, Microsoft Word allows for only nine outline levels. This is probably sufficient, in most cases, for outlining the major sections of a document (which is probably the purpose for which the tool is designed), but when it comes to complex brainstorming and the like, the nine level limit will start to cramp your style.
Posted by Stephen R. Diamond
Jan 21, 2010 at 01:33 AM
Lucas wrote:
>For the record, since moritz listed some of the major outlining features that Word
>lacks, there is also the limit of nine outline levels. As I wrote in October:
>
>Unlike
>dedicated outliners, Microsoft Word allows for only nine outline levels. This is
>probably sufficient, in most cases, for outlining the major sections of a document
>(which is probably the purpose for which the tool is designed), but when it comes to
>complex brainstorming and the like, the nine level limit will start to cramp your
>style.
The same 9-level limit applies to a prominent dedicated outliner, NoteMap. imho, this is the design flaw that killed NoteMap, the crucial way to distinguish its capabilities from MS Word’s that CaseSoft failed to exploit.
Posted by moritz
Jan 21, 2010 at 02:52 AM
Funny thing is I bet they limited it to 9 levels to be able to retain export compatibility with Word.
I don’t think there’s a good workaround if you need more than 9 levels.
Do you frequently find yourself in such a situation and could you describe a typical scenario?
Thanks!
Moritz
Stephen R. Diamond wrote:
>The same 9-level limit applies to a
>prominent dedicated outliner, NoteMap. imho, this is the design flaw that killed
>NoteMap, the crucial way to distinguish its capabilities from MS Word’s that
>CaseSoft failed to exploit.
Posted by Edwin Yip
Jan 21, 2010 at 10:44 AM
Hi Gary,
In the upcoming Word 2010 the outlining will be enhanced a lot: better looking, drag and drop the headings in the navigation pane to restructure the document, and so on.
You also want to look the Word addin I’m working on called Writing Outliner, it’s primary goal is adding powerful outlining feature to Microsoft Word?, I am pretty sure that pretty much of the needs you described will be met by this Word addin, including the above mentioned new features in Word 2010.
Look at the first screenshot on the homeapge, “Writing Outliner Word addin” adds an outliner on the left side into Word seamlessly, you can easily outline there (like using Excel, press ENTER to add a new sibling document (heading), and press INS to add a child document (heading)), you can also put all your notes and research files there in the outliner without messing with your drafts.
Web site: http://writingoutliner.com/
Edwin Yip