Close Task Pane with esc key

[Guest]

pre-Office 2003, the Format Style was in a floating box that I can close by
pressing the esc key. Now, in Office 2003, I have to use the mouse to close
the task pane or press ctrl+F1 which is not very easy to execute with one
hand.

Please allow these task panes to be closed with a single key-stroke, e.g. esc.

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http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...a7f1e1&dg=microsoft.public.word.docmanagement

 

[Klaus Linke]

Hi Melissa,

You could assign your own shortcut.

Hit Ctrl + Alt + num+ (that is, hold down Ctrl, Alt, and the "+" key on the
numeric keypad on the right).
Then hit the old shortcut, Ctrl + F1, and assign another one, say F2.

The task pane was invented to keep important stuff visible all the time
without getting into the way. So if you have a large enough screen, maybe
just try to get used to it, or decrease the width of the task pane a bit so
it doesn't take as much screen estate?

Regards,
Klaus

 

[Guest]

Do you mean:
press and hold ctrl+alt+"+ key"+number of my choice?
As I don't have a number pad, do i press and hold ctrl+alt+shift+"+
key"+number of choice?

 

[Klaus Linke]

Hi Melissa,

If you have a Laptop, it may be easier to choose "Tools > Customize >
Keyboard", Category: All Commands, and choose the command that displays the
task pane, which is "ViewTaskPane".
You get the same dialog as with my previous method, and can assign a new
shortcut.
"Esc" won't work, but F2 is a good alternative, since just about nobody uses
it.

Ctrl + Alt + Num+ is the shortcut for "ToolsCustomizeKeyboardShortcut" which
allows you to see which command is assigned to some keyboard shortcut, edit
it, or add a new shortcut. It could also be run from "Tools > Macro >
Macros... > Macros in: Word commands".

Regards,
Klaus

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the tip! Have done as suggested and will now practise hitting F2
without accidentally launching Help menu! LOL

BTW, out of curiousity, what is the "num" you mentioned? I don't see any
button on my laptop with that...

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

"Num" preceding a number means that you have to use the number key on the
numeric keypad, not the one on the top row of the main keyboard.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

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all may benefit.

 

[Klaus Linke]

BTW, out of curiousity, what is the "num" you mentioned?

I don't see any button on my laptop with that...

"Num+" is just a shortcut for "+ key on the numeric keypad".
It's different from the + key on the regular keyboard.

Greetings,
Klaus