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Customize your QAT

Okay, well, the tech editor on my last book suggested I not use that term, but I think it's kind of hip. [Sorry, Richard. :)] Just in case you don't know, the QAT is the Quick Access Toolbar, that friendly little collection of common tools that appears just to the right of the Microsoft Office Button (formerly known as the File menu).

That little shelf of goodies can really be a great time-saver. Not only can you add your own tools to the QAT, but you can also customize it for specific documents. This means that if you've got to go through a 100-page document today to fix all the formatting that somebody else messed up, you can easily add the formatting tools (Font, Size, Style, Indents, what-have-you) to the QAT for this document only. That saves you who knows how many clicks of various tabs and command groups. Very cool.

Here's how to do it:

1. Click the Customize Quick Access Toolbar button to the right of the toolbar and click More Commands.


2. Click the arrow on the Customize Quick Access Toolbar control at the top of the right panel.


3. Choose the name of the file you want to add the tools to.


4. Click a tool on the left and click Add to add it to your customized QAT. Repeat as needed.


5. Click OK to save the new toolbar.

Now, start planning the fun thing you're going to do when you're done with that file, because you'll be done in no time. :)