This document provides tips for optimizing Microsoft Office 2010. It discusses how to personalize the Quick Access Toolbar by adding or rearranging buttons. It also describes how to adjust the Recent Documents list by changing the number displayed or pinning frequently used documents. The document outlines how to customize the Ribbon by moving, adding, or removing tabs and groups. Finally, it explains how to change the default working folder to save files in a different location to save time. The tips are meant to help make Office 2010 work more efficiently for individual users.

1. Optimize Microsoft Office
2010
Tips and Tricks

2. What is this new look?
• Same tools—just new location.
File
Button
Quick Access
Toolbar

3. How can you make Office work for
you?
1. Personalize the Quick Access Toolbar
2. Adjust the Recent Documents list
3. Create a personalized Ribbon
4. Change the default working folder

4. Tip 1
PERSONALIZE THE QUICK
ACCESS TOOLBAR (QAT)

5. What is the QAT?
• Series of buttons; top left corner of the
Office window
• Pretty basic by default
• Have options for Save, Undo, and Redo

6. How to Personalize the QAT
1. Click the arrow at the right of the QAT.
2. Select (by clicking) additional tools to
appear on the QAT.

7. Advanced Personalization of the
QAT
1. Click the arrow on the right of the QAT.
2. At the bottom of the QAT, click the More
Commands options—this will open the
More (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Options
box.
3. Select the desired feature.
4. Click ADD.
5. Select additional features.
6. Click OK.

8. Advanced Personalization of the
QAT
You can add additional features to the QAT

9. Or You Can Move the QAT
1. Click the arrow to the right of the QAT.
2. Select the Show Below the Ribbon option.

10. Tip 2
ADJUST THE RECENT
DOCUMENTS LIST

11. What is the Recent Documents
List?
• An easily accessible list of recently opened
documents.
• Found under the File button

12. How to Adjust the List?
1. Click the File button.
2. Click the Word (or Excel, PowerPoint)
Options.
3. Click Advanced.

13. 4. In the Display section, adjustment can be
made to the number of documents
published.

14. For Frequently Used
Documents, Adjust the Pinning
1. On the Recent Document list, click the
pushpin next to the document’s name.
– The document is now permanently placed on
the list

15. Tip 3
CREATE A CUSTOMIZED
RIBBON

16. Customizing the Ribbon
• New to Word 2010.
• So, just what can be done to the Ribbon:
– Move tabs and groups
– Turn tabs on and off
– Add groups
– Add custom groups
– Add custom tabs
– Import and export Ribbon customizations
– Can reset to original settings

17. Cont.
1
• To Customize:
2
1. Right-click the QAT.
2. Select Customize the Ribbon from the
shortcut.
3
3. The Word Options, Customize the Ribbon
Dialog box will open.

18. Cont.
1
• To Customize:
2
1. Right-click the QAT.
2. Select Customize the Ribbon from the
shortcut.
3
3. The Word Options, Customize the Ribbon
Dialog box will open.

19. Cont.
To Create a
To Add a new Group
New Tab
To Rename
an Existing
Group or
Tab
To Import or
To Reset Export a
Custom
Ribbon

20. Cont.
My Desired
Customization
Settings
The End Result

21. Tip 4
CHANGE THE DEFAULT
WORKING FOLDER

22. Why Change the Default Working
Folder?
• By default, your computer is set to save to
the hard drive—My Document.
• If you consistently change the
location, you can save time by changing
the saving location.

23. How to Change the Default
Working Folder
1. Click the File button.
2. Click Word (Excel, PowerPoint) Options
button.
3. Click Save.

24. 4. Look for the Default File Location.
5. Click Browse.
6. Find the desired
folder.
7. Click OK.

25. Other Options
• Work with installed themes.
• Take advantage of the available templates.
• Create your own custom dictionary.
• Adjust your AutoCorrect options.
• Use keyboard shortcuts.

26. References
Meers, Trevor. “Make Office Work for
You.” Smart Computing & Consumer
Electronics. November 2010.