Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar

With the introduction of Word 2007, Microsoft presented a completely different approach to Word's user interface. Gone were the days of toolbars and menus, easily customizable by users. Instead, the extent of user customization in Word 2007 is limited to what is called the Quick Access Toolbar.

The Quick Access Toolbar is the area just above the ribbon, at the top of the screen, and just to the right of the Office button. The Quick Access Toolbar includes three tools that allow you to save your document, undo an action, and redo an action. You can, however, change the tools that appear on the Quick Access Toolbar. To customize this toolbar, follow these steps:

1. Click the Office button and then click Word Options. Word displays the Word Options dialog box.
2. At the left side of the dialog box, click Customize. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Using the Choose Commands From drop-down list, specify what group of commands you want listed in the dialog box.
4. In the list of commands at the left side of the dialog box, select the one you want to appear on the Quick Access Toolbar.
5. Click the Add button. The selected command is copied to the list at the right side of the dialog box.
6. Repeat steps 3 through 5 for any other commands you want on the toolbar.
7. If you want to remove any commands from the Quick Access Toolbar, select the command at the right side of the dialog box and click Remove.
8. When you are satisfied with the list of commands, click OK.

Your newly customized Quick Access Toolbar should be visible and usable at the top-left of your screen.