Choosing the Right Document View

In previous versions of Word, you could switch views using buttons on the status bar or use options on the View menu to change the way your documents appeared onscreen. In Word 2007, the View menu is replaced by a View tab on the Ribbon, which incorporates most of the functions previously found on the View menu and throws in a few useful treats from the Window menu as well. The View buttons, meanwhile, have been rearranged and moved to the right side of the status bar, where they sit alongside a useful new Zoom slider.

These View buttons, shown in Figure 7.1, provide five ways to display the text, graphics, and other contents of your documents. Depending on the task at hand, you want to choose the view that provides the most appropriate mix of these features. Most experienced Word users find themselves switching views as they work on documents—particularly more complex documents—depending on what they’re trying to accomplish. The view buttons are, from left to right, Print Layout, Full Screen Reading, Web Layout, Outline, and Draft.