About AbiWord
About Open Source
Index
Contents
What's New
Check Version
Introduction
Installation
Getting Started
The Workspace
Entering Text
Formatting
Edit Commands
Paragraphs
Styles
Inserting Objects
Printing
Preferences
Shortcuts
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## Formatting

Formatting and font selection can be done either before or after you have typed your document .

- Before you start typing

  Apply the format at the insertion point. The formatting command does not deactivate itself automatically. You will have to deactivate it to resume "normal" format.

- If the document is already typed

  Select the characters you want to change and apply the new format or font. Only the selected area will change.

Following are the different formats available and a description of the ways to activate them. There is also a detailed description of the Font Dialog Box which can be used for either font selection or formatting.

### Font Selection

- Choose the character font by clicking on the arrow to the right of the Font command on the Format Toolbar. Then select the desired font from the list of choices.

- Choose the font size by clicking on the arrow to the right of the Size command on the Format Toolbar. Then select the desired size from the list of choices. You can also enter it directly with the keyboard.

### Text Formatting

There are four ways to format any text:

- Use the Format menu
- Use the Icon on the Format Toolbar
- Use the keyboard shortcut
- Use the Font dialog window

bold

1. Go to the Format menu and click on "Bold"
2. Click on the "Bold" icon of the Format toolbar
3. Use the keyboard shortcut by pressing the "Ctrl" and "B" keys at the same time

italics

1. Go to the Format menu and click on "Italic"
2. Click on the "Italic" icon of the Format toolbar
3. Use the keyboard shortcut by pressing the "Ctrl" and "I" keys at the same time

underlined

1. Go to the Format menu and click on "Underline"
2. Click on the "Underline" icon of the Format toolbar
3. Use the keyboard shortcut by pressing the "Ctrl" and "U" keys at the same time

overlined

1. Go to the Format menu and click on "Overline"
2. Click on the "Overline" icon of the Format toolbar
3. Use the keyboard shortcut by pressing the "Ctrl" and "T" keys at the same time

strikeout

1. Go to the Format menu and click on "Strike"
2. Click on the "Strike" of the Format toolbar
3. Use the keyboard shortcut by pressing the "Ctrl" and "K" keys at the same time

superscript

1. Go to the Format menu and click on "Superscript"
2. Click on the "Superscript" icon of the Format toolbar
3. Use the keyboard shortcut by pressing the "Ctrl" and "=" keys at the same time

subscript

1. Go to the Format menu and then click on "Subscript"
2. Click on the "Subscript" icon of the Format toolbar or
3. Use the keyboard shortcut by pressing the "Ctrl" and "-" keys at the same time

You can combine several formatting commands, such as: bold + italic + underline + strikeout + superscript.

### Font Dialog Box

This dialog box can be accessed in any of three ways:

1. Go to the Format menu and click on "Font..."
2. In an AbiWord document, rightclick the mouse button, then select Font
3. Use the keyboard shortcut by pressing the "Ctrl"and "D" keys simultaneously

All the preceding formating commands are in the Font Dialog Box. In addition, the following formating is available:

- Color

  Click on the arrow to the right of the Color command in the Effects box and then select the desired color from the list of choices.

  In Unix there is a separate tab to adjust the hue, saturation, and value, or the red, green, and blue components, independently.

- Scripts for different languages for the specified font

  Click on the arrow to the right of the Script command (Encoding in Unix) and select the desired script from the list of choices.

In the "Example" box (the bottom text box in Unix) you can see what the text will look like in the selected font and formats.

Once you have selected the attributes, confirm by clicking on the "OK" button or, to discard the modifications, click the "Cancel" button .