Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 10, 2026)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
A toolbar is nothing but a collection of buttons or icons that are used to perform some common task in Word. Normally, toolbars appear just below the menu and just above the ruler. They can, however, appear almost anywhere on your screen, depending on the toolbar and how your Word screen has been configured.
The beauty of toolbars, besides increasing productivity, is that they are completely customizable. You can change tools and toolbars to suit your needs. You can even develop different toolbars for different document templates. Information on how to customize toolbars has been covered in other issues of WordTips.
Word allows you to control which toolbars are displayed at any given time. To turn a toolbar on or off, simply select the Toolbars option from the View menu. You see a submenu that lists many of the toolbars available.
All you need to do is select one of the toolbars available. When you select one of the toolbar names, Word displays that toolbar. When you select it again, Word removes the toolbar from your screen. If a check mark appears to the left of one of the toolbar names, the toolbar is visible.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1748) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
Tired of the old black-on-white text displayed by Word? Depending on your program version, you can configure Word to show ...
Discover MoreWord includes tons of internal commands that you can access as you customize your system. One of these is the Normalize ...
Discover MoreNormally, Word allows you to specify what measurement units you want used for the program; just choose Tools | Options | ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments