IT skills and training

SmartArt in Word

What is SmartArt?

Use SmartArt to quickly and easily make a visual representations of your information. You can choose from amongst many different layouts including: Lists, Processes. Cycles, Hierarchy and many more. Use their visual design to efficiently communicate your message or ideas. SmartArt graphics can be created in Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.

Word - Tables

Tables 

Tables are a powerful tool in Microsoft Word that allow you to organise and present data effectively. This guide will walk you through the basics of creating, formatting, and modifying tables in Word.

Whilst this site displays tables differently to Microsoft word, here is an example table with first column's cells merged together:

Word - Dictation and Transcription

Dictation

The Dictation feature allows you to speak into your microphone, and Word will convert your speech into text. Here’s how to use it:

Check Your Microphone: Ensure you have a working microphone connected to your computer.

Open Microsoft Word: Launch Microsoft Word and open the document where you want to use dictation.

Activate Dictation:

Noise suppression

Important guidance for noise suppression in Microsoft Teams (and when you may want to turn it off)

Microsoft Teams is designed, by default, to focus on one main speaker. To do this, it uses active noise suppression to remove background noise, such as music, dogs barking or colleagues talking in the office behind you. 

This is a great feature and one that's worth playing with, as you can see in this video by Microsoft's Mike Tholfsen: