I used to have this neat little program in DOS called Professional Write. It
was just like using a typewriter and did exactly what I wanted it to do. But
alas, DOS is gone, all in the name of "improving" things. Word drives me
nuts, always hyphenating things I don't want hyphenated, indenting what I
don't want indented, capitalizing what I don't want capitalized and
generally making a mess out of my documents. Is there a way to stop it from
"helping" me?

Bob

Start here:

http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting/TameAutoFormat.htm

And just in case:

http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting...eformatted.htm



On 1/4/05 8:55 PM, "rck" wrote:

> I used to have this neat little program in DOS called Professional Write. It
> was just like using a typewriter and did exactly what I wanted it to do. But
> alas, DOS is gone, all in the name of "improving" things. Word drives me
> nuts, always hyphenating things I don't want hyphenated, indenting what I
> don't want indented, capitalizing what I don't want capitalized and
> generally making a mess out of my documents. Is there a way to stop it from
> "helping" me?
>
> Bob
>
>

--
Daiya Mitchell, MVP Mac/Word
Word FAQ: http://www.word.mvps.org/
MacWord Tips: <http://www.word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/>
What's an MVP? A volunteer! Read the FAQ: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/

G'Day rck,

Professional Write is still around, but of course is unsupported
since the rest of the world has moved on.

No one has taken DOS away! DOS is still around, but exactly
the same applies to support.

Feel free to find a copy of DOS and a copy of Professional
Write, and let the rest of us go to h.....

Of course that's where WE want to be!!
--
Regards,
Pat Garard
Australia
_______________________

"rck" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:yrKCd.784$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I used to have this neat little program in DOS called Professional Write.
>It was just like using a typewriter and did exactly what I wanted it to do.
>But alas, DOS is gone, all in the name of "improving" things. Word drives
>me nuts, always hyphenating things I don't want hyphenated, indenting what
>I don't want indented, capitalizing what I don't want capitalized and
>generally making a mess out of my documents. Is there a way to stop it from
>"helping" me?
>
> Bob
>

On Wed, 05 Jan 2005 04:55:58 GMT, "rck"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I used to have this neat little program in DOS called Professional Write. It
>was just like using a typewriter and did exactly what I wanted it to do. But
>alas, DOS is gone, all in the name of "improving" things. Word drives me
>nuts, always hyphenating things I don't want hyphenated, indenting what I
>don't want indented, capitalizing what I don't want capitalized and
>generally making a mess out of my documents. Is there a way to stop it from
>"helping" me?
>
>Bob


All of the 'nasty' functions you've described can be controlled, but,
unfortunately, that means you have to learn how to use the program.
>

And your point is?

Bob

"Pat Garard" <apgarardATbigpondDOTnetDOTau> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> G'Day rck,
>
> Professional Write is still around, but of course is unsupported
> since the rest of the world has moved on.
>
> No one has taken DOS away! DOS is still around, but exactly
> the same applies to support.
>
> Feel free to find a copy of DOS and a copy of Professional
> Write, and let the rest of us go to h.....
>
> Of course that's where WE want to be!!
> --
> Regards,
> Pat Garard
> Australia
> _______________________
>
> "rck" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:yrKCd.784$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I used to have this neat little program in DOS called Professional Write.
>>It was just like using a typewriter and did exactly what I wanted it to
>>do. But alas, DOS is gone, all in the name of "improving" things. Word
>>drives me nuts, always hyphenating things I don't want hyphenated,
>>indenting what I don't want indented, capitalizing what I don't want
>>capitalized and generally making a mess out of my documents. Is there a
>>way to stop it from "helping" me?
>>
>> Bob
>>
>
>

"E. Barry Bruyea" <it'(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Wed, 05 Jan 2005 04:55:58 GMT, "rck"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I used to have this neat little program in DOS called Professional Write.
>>It
>>was just like using a typewriter and did exactly what I wanted it to do.
>>But
>>alas, DOS is gone, all in the name of "improving" things. Word drives me
>>nuts, always hyphenating things I don't want hyphenated, indenting what I
>>don't want indented, capitalizing what I don't want capitalized and
>>generally making a mess out of my documents. Is there a way to stop it
>>from
>>"helping" me?
>>
>>Bob
>
>
> All of the 'nasty' functions you've described can be controlled, but,
> unfortunately, that means you have to learn how to use the program.
>>
>

In case you hadn't noticed, MS doesn't include instruction books anymore,
and the so-called "help" files don't give much help, so learning MS
applications these days is a matter of trial and error. I just don't have
the time to mess with it. From where I sit, software should be helping me
not hindering what I want to do. I merely asked if there was a simple way to
turn this stuff off and all the Mickeysoft people get their fur raised up
and ready to fight.

Bob

Thanks, Bob

"Daiya Mitchell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:BE00BD71.123B5%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Start here:
>
> http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting/TameAutoFormat.htm
>
> And just in case:
>
> http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting...eformatted.htm
>
>
>
> On 1/4/05 8:55 PM, "rck" wrote:
>
>> I used to have this neat little program in DOS called Professional Write.
>> It
>> was just like using a typewriter and did exactly what I wanted it to do.
>> But
>> alas, DOS is gone, all in the name of "improving" things. Word drives me
>> nuts, always hyphenating things I don't want hyphenated, indenting what I
>> don't want indented, capitalizing what I don't want capitalized and
>> generally making a mess out of my documents. Is there a way to stop it
>> from
>> "helping" me?
>>
>> Bob
>>
>>
>
> --
> Daiya Mitchell, MVP Mac/Word
> Word FAQ: http://www.word.mvps.org/
> MacWord Tips: <http://www.word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/>
> What's an MVP? A volunteer! Read the FAQ:
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>

Rck,

Your quite right, Microsoft seem to be so preoccupied with new features to
entice you onto the next version they overlook the fact that not everyone can
afford the time to spend learning new features. The other issue is that
existing features get modifed or moved, so the skills youve already learnt
are lost upon moving to a new version.

Years ago some software had a basic menu option "Beginner, Intermediate,
Advanced" according to which option you chose, then features and menus
became more advanced, thus basic everyday features were easliy accessible for
the beginner, whilst more advanced options for the guru.

A basic concept that worked well, and more simple than any "personalised
menu" that attempts to hide features that you dont use, even if the likely
hood of using a hidden feature is quite great.

Tim


"rck" wrote:

> I used to have this neat little program in DOS called Professional Write. It
> was just like using a typewriter and did exactly what I wanted it to do. But
> alas, DOS is gone, all in the name of "improving" things. Word drives me
> nuts, always hyphenating things I don't want hyphenated, indenting what I
> don't want indented, capitalizing what I don't want capitalized and
> generally making a mess out of my documents. Is there a way to stop it from
> "helping" me?
>
> Bob
>
>
>

Bob,

As far as I know, none of the people that replied to your question is a
Microsoft employee. To answer your question directly, no you can't
turn Word into a typewriter. Have you considered buying a typewriter?
There are several very capable models that cost less than a copy of
Word. Of course even new model typewriters have these have moved on a
bit with time and might dissappoint.

I disagree with your assessment of Word Help. It is fairly
compreshensive. Then you also have these support News Groups which
provide quick and responsive help. Case in point, Daiya Mitchell
responded with a very informative and polite reply in less than 45
minutes. Her fur didn't appear to be up.

Word is a very powerful Word processor. I agree that it has annoying
bells and whistles and that it can be frustrating at first to get it
tamed to your liking, but it can be done. You have spent more time
bantering here than it would take to resolve all the issues in your
orginal complaint by following the helpful tips that Daiya provided.
Usually when someone comes in firing for effect there will be a few
rounds fired back. I suggest you just ignore them and get on with
resolving your Word issue. If you just find that Word won't do then
you can always try Note Pad.

See http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/conc...ion/index.html and
http://home.earthlink.net/~wordfaqs/GettingStarted.htm

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

"rck" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:__RCd.950$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "E. Barry Bruyea" <it'(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > On Wed, 05 Jan 2005 04:55:58 GMT, "rck"
> > <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> >>I used to have this neat little program in DOS called Professional
Write.
> >>It
> >>was just like using a typewriter and did exactly what I wanted it to do.
> >>But
> >>alas, DOS is gone, all in the name of "improving" things. Word drives me
> >>nuts, always hyphenating things I don't want hyphenated, indenting what
I
> >>don't want indented, capitalizing what I don't want capitalized and
> >>generally making a mess out of my documents. Is there a way to stop it
> >>from
> >>"helping" me?
> >>
> >>Bob
> >
> >
> > All of the 'nasty' functions you've described can be controlled, but,
> > unfortunately, that means you have to learn how to use the program.
> >>
> >
>
> In case you hadn't noticed, MS doesn't include instruction books anymore,
> and the so-called "help" files don't give much help, so learning MS
> applications these days is a matter of trial and error. I just don't have
> the time to mess with it. From where I sit, software should be helping me
> not hindering what I want to do. I merely asked if there was a simple way
to
> turn this stuff off and all the Mickeysoft people get their fur raised up
> and ready to fight.
>
> Bob
>
>