Use of WordPad

 

Using WordPad

In this article

• Create, open, and save documents
• Format documents
• Insert dates and pictures to documents
• View documents
• Change page margins
• Print documents

WordPad is a text-editing program you can use to create and edit documents. Unlike Notepad, WordPad documents can include rich formatting and graphics, and you can link to or embed objects, such as pictures or other documents.

 WordPad window

 Create, open, and save documents

1. Click to open WordPad.

2. Use the following commands to create, open, or save documents:

   To	Do this
   Create a new document	Click the WordPad menu button , and then click New.
   Open a document	Click the WordPad menu button, and then click Open.
   Save a document	Click the WordPad menu button, and then click Save.
   Save a document with a new name or format	Click the WordPad menu button, point to Save as, and then click the format you want to save the document in.

   Note

   • WordPad can be used to open and save text documents (.txt), rich text files (.rtf), Word documents (.docx), and OpenDocument Text (.odt) documents. Documents in other formats are opened as plain text documents and might not appear as expected.

	Work faster in WordPad
	There's a quick way to put the commands you use most often in WordPad within easy reach—put them on the Quick Access Toolbar above the Ribbon. To add a WordPad command to the Quick Access Toolbar, right-click a button or command, and then click Add to Quick Access Toolbar.

 Format documents

Formatting refers to how the text in your document looks as well as how it's arranged. You can use the Ribbon, located just underneath the title bar to easily change the formatting in your document. For example, you can choose from many different fonts and font sizes, and you can make your text almost any color you want. You can also easily change how your document is aligned.

1. Click to open WordPad.

2. Use the following commands to change the formatting of your document:

   To	Do this
   Change how text looks in your document	Select the text that you want to change, and then use the buttons on the Home tab in the Font group. For more information about what each button does, hover over the button for a description.
   Change how text is aligned in your document	Select the text that you want to change, and then use the buttons on the Home tab in the Paragraph group. For more information about what each button does, hover over the button for a description.

 Insert dates and pictures to documents

1. Click to open WordPad.

2. Use the following commands to insert the current date or a picture:

   To	Do this
   Insert the current date	On the Home tab, in the Insert group, click Date and time. Click the format you want, and then click OK.
   Insert a picture	On the Home tab, in the Insert group, click Picture. Locate the picture that you want to insert, and then click Open.
   Insert a drawing	On the Home tab, in the Insert group, click Paint drawing. Create the drawing that you want to insert and then close Paint.

 View documents

1. Click to open WordPad.

2. Use the following commands to view documents:

   To	Do this
   Increase or decrease the zoom level	On the View tab, in the Zoom group, click Zoom in or Zoom out.
   View the document at its actual size	On the View tab, in the Zoom group, click 100%.
   Display the ruler	On the View tab, in the Show or hide group, select the Ruler check box.
   Display the status bar	On the View tab, in the Show or hide group, select the Status bar check box.
   Change the word wrap settings	On the View tab, in the Settings group, click Word wrap, and then click the setting that you want.
   Change the unit of measurement on the ruler	On the View tab, in the Settings group, click Measurement units, and then click the units that you want.

   Tip

   • To zoom in and out in a document, you can also click the Zoom in  or Zoom out  buttons on the Zoom slider in the lower-right corner of the window to increase or decrease the zoom level.

     Zoom slider

 Change page margins

1. Click to open WordPad.

2. Click the WordPad menu button , click Page setup, and then select the options you want.

 Print documents

1. Click to open WordPad.

2. Click the WordPad menu button , click Print, and then select the options you want.

   Note

   • You can use Print preview to see how your document will look before you print it. To use Print preview, click the WordPad menu button , point to Print, and then click Print preview. When you are finished previewing your document, click Close print preview.