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Keep Paragraph Dialogue box open all the time

Anonymous
2020-05-26T13:05:55+00:00

Hi!

Happy if this turns out to be an easy one:

I am working on a large document, initially created in WordPerfect, converted to Word, which requires extensive modifications, since it did not use styles or proper tabs, etc., and it has all kinds of makeshift formatting. 

Every page needs work, so I'd *love* to be able to have the Paragraph dialogue box open as I go through the document paragraph by paragraph. 

As it is now, I have to go to the ribbon, click on the little arrow, and then it opens. It's a pain to do this over and over... 

Is there any way to "pin" it open? 

P.S.

I have created a shortcut key, but...

Thanks!

Fred Boer

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-05-26T14:04:09+00:00

    Hi Fred,

    Thanks for your efforts on this case.

    Based on my test and research, we can’t keep Paragraph setting opening all the time. And it seems like there is no easier way to go to Paragraph setting.

    The better way to go to Paragraph setting in Word is to add Paragraph setting in Quick Access Toolbar. You can check this screenshot.

    Moreover, we do believe your valuable suggestion can improve our products, we suggest you vote this idea in Word UserVoice. This is the bets place to share user’s requirement and advice. The related user will adapt the idea of the high vote and keep bring a better user experience. Your vote may turn this feature into reality and benefit more users.  😊

    Thanks for your understanding and cooperation. Have a nice day!!

    Best Regards,

    Ivy

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  1. Stefan Blom 338.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2020-05-26T17:17:08+00:00

    When you are searching and replacing formatting, Word isn't necessarily clever enough to replace one format with another. For example, as you have noticed, Word can't really be instructed to find and delete a specific tab stop.

    Rather, the Find & Replace facility finds formatting and it is then able to apply (different) formatting. Depending on what kind of formatting is being applied, existing formatting may be removed.

    When a Find & Replace operation applies a paragraph style, paragraph formatting will be replaced by the corresponding formatting in the style.

    That said, in most cases, reformatting documents will be a manual task, as Charles has pointed out. You will have to remove formatting and then apply the formatting you want, for example by applying Normal style to all text and re-style the text with appropriate styles.

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  1. Charles Kenyon 166.6K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2020-05-26T15:45:03+00:00

    Hi Fred,

    Like you, I've added a keyboard shortcut **** to my system to enable opening this dialog quickly. Customize Keyboard Shortcuts I use Alt+P.

    Converted documents/templates will always be a pain to edit. Generally, if I want a template for use, I will paste as plain text with no formatting and then apply appropriate styles to do the formatting in Word.

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  2. Stefan Blom 338.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2020-05-26T14:34:36+00:00

    You may be able to apply an appropriate style to text via Find & Replace. For example, if all paragraphs with a left indent of .25" should be in a particular style, you can search for that indent and replace with a style name.

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  3. HansV 462.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2020-05-26T13:59:36+00:00

    Unfortunately, that is not possible. Sorry!

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