This guide covers essential skills for creating and formatting documents using software like Microsoft Word.

1. Short Notes: Core Concepts

a) Basic Operations

• Save As: Use this to save a document with a new name, in a different location, or in a different file format (e.g., PDF).

b) Formatting Techniques

• Text Formatting: Changing the Font, Font Size, Font Style (Bold, Italic, <u>Underline</u>), and Font Color.

• Paragraph Formatting:

  • Alignment: Aligning text to the Left, Center, Right, or Justify (aligned on both sides).

  • Line Spacing: Changing the vertical space between lines.

  • Bullets and Numbering: Creating organized lists.

c) Inserting Objects

• Pictures/Images: Insert visuals to support your text.

• Shapes: Add basic shapes like arrows and circles.

• Tables: Organize data into rows and columns.

  • Merge Cells: Combine multiple cells into one.

  • Split Cells: Divide a single cell into multiple cells.

• Header and Footer: A special area at the top (Header) or bottom (Footer) of every page, often used for page numbers or titles.

d) Proofreading Tools

• Spelling & Grammar Check: Automatically finds and suggests corrections.

• Find and Replace: Quickly search for a word and replace it with another (Ctrl + H).

e) Mail Merge

• A feature used to create personalized bulk letters or invitations.

• It combines a main document (template) with a data source (recipient list).

  • Main Document: The letter with placeholders (e.g., <<First_Name>>).

  • Data Source: A list or table with the recipient's information.

• This produces a unique, personalized document for each person on the list.

2. Tips and Tricks for the Exam

• Formatting Tip: Always select the text first before applying any formatting.

• Mail Merge Trick: Remember the two components: Template + List = Merged Documents. This is a very common exam topic.

• Shortcut Keys: Knowing basic shortcuts saves time. The most important are Ctrl+S (Save), Ctrl+C (Copy), Ctrl+X (Cut), and Ctrl+V (Paste).

3. Important Points to Remember

• Justify alignment is used in newspapers and books for clean edges.

• The Header and Footer content appears on every page automatically.

• Mail Merge is the most efficient way to create many personalized letters.

• Always use Print Preview before printing to save paper and catch layout mistakes.