How to Change and Define Grid Settings in Microsoft Word 2003

Sometimes users need more than a traditional word-processing format, in which text is displayed over a white background. When working with numerous pictures and/or objects within the same document, it is sometimes necessary to snap those objects to a grid and to define the grid settings. This way the objects stay snapped to grid and can easily be manipulated within the document as desired.

Instructions

1. Open the Drawing toolbar. Click on “View,” then “Toolbars.” Make sure the “Drawing” field is checked in the submenu that opens; this will add the Drawing toolbar to the Command toolbar.

2. Open the Grid menu. Click on the “Draw” field on the drawing toolbar, then select “Grid.”

3. Determine snapping. Check or uncheck the snap boxes to set the grid to snap objects to the grid, or to snap objects to objects.

4. Use the Spacing fields to enter in the grid spacing, measured in inches.

5. Set margins. Under “Grid Origins,” check the box to use margins, then enter the horizontal and vertical margins into their corresponding fields.

6. Select display properties. Check the box labeled “Display Gridlines On Screen,” then choose the number of vertical and horizontal grid lines you want displayed by entering the desired number in the corresponding grid-line field.

Tips & Warnings

• This feature comes in very handy when you are working in a document that contains numerous pictures or objects.

• Changing grid settings may affect how objects and pictures lay inside the document.