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How to show style area pane down lefthand side of document

Anonymous
2017-02-14T12:30:40+00:00

Hi All,

I've managed to somehow switch off, or 'hide', the style area pane down the lefthand side of the document. I've searched for answers online, but all the answers are given for PC users – I can't see anything for Mac, and I can't seem to find the equivalent tabs/buttons to click in order to bring the style pane back into view. I'm in draft mode within the document, and I'm editing within a specific template.

Please could you help?

I'm running Microsoft Word for Mac 2011, Version 14.7.1 (161129) on OS X El Capitan, version 10.11.5.

Many thanks!

Lucy

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435K Reputation points
    2017-02-14T14:26:54+00:00

    In Word 2011 the Styles pane, itself, is contained in the Toolbox, which is toggled on/off by the Toolbox button on the Standard Toolbar or by selecting View> Toolbox> Styles in the main menu.

    If you actually do mean the Style Area, it displays only in Draft View & Outline View. If using Print Layout or any other view, switch to either of those 2. If the Style Area still isn't displayed go to Word> Preferences> View then set the Style Area Width to any value greater than zero.

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  1. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435K Reputation points
    2017-02-14T14:53:15+00:00

    Glad to help - What may have happened is that once displayed the vertical line that separates the Style Area from the text can be dragged to increase/decrease the width of the Style Area. However, if dragged too far to the left it effectively resets the width to zero. Once that happens the line disappears & no longer can be dragged until the Preference is restored.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-02-14T14:36:41+00:00

    Hi Bob,

    Thank you! This is exactly what I was after – your second instruction (Word>Preferences>View>, then setting Style Area Width) worked! (I had looked in that panel several times but had failed to see the Style Area Width box. Somehow, I had managed to set that measurement to 0mm, so I wasn't seeing the Style Area at all).

    Thank you very much for your quick response, and your help – problem solved, and I can now get back to editing my document!

    Much obliged,

    Lucy

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-02-14T14:33:30+00:00

    Hi Tim

    Apologies for not being completely clear. I was able to open the Style guides 'box' as shown in your screenshot, but it is the 'sidebar' pane I was after. I've now managed to do this using Bob's reply (below), but thank you so much for taking the time to respond!

    Best wishes and thank you for your help,

    Lucy

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-02-14T14:17:24+00:00

    Hi Lucy,

    Do you mean the style guides in the screenshot below? If not, can you share with us the method which can achieve your requirement on Windows? It can help us understand your requirement better.

    Best regards,

    Tim

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