Headers - Word Processing - Articles about Computing

If you want to teach this lesson to others, it would be wise to review right, left, and center, and decimal tabs first.

Page numbers are not the only things that you may want to repeat on every page. The procedure is similar for all of these items.

If you only want to repeat the page number, then click on Insert/Page Number, choose the position, and you're set.

However, if you want to add more to the top or the bottom of every page, then you should use the header. For example, you might want to add chapter titles or special ways of counting. You might want to add text to the page unber, such as page 17 of 38. You might want to include a background picture or a graphic on every page. The header and footer feature will help.

Here's how to start:

Click on View and then click Header and Footer.
Agree with students that Header and Footer belong in the Insert menu.
If you want a footer, then click on the "Switch between header and footer" icon. If you just want a header, then ignore this step.
Type in the text that you want for the header or the footer. You can format that text using any font commands that you like, including centering or justification.
When using Hebrew, the English numbers sometimes come out in a different font. Confirm you are happy with that font.
You may also add tabs in the header and footer, but be aware that Word already adds center and right tabs. The right tab is alll the way at the end of the ruler line so that you can put the page number all the way at the right. However, we're not going to do that.
Instead of a page number put in Besayatah D'Shmaya (��"�) as an exercise in Hebrew.
There are other buttons on your screen's header and footer toolbar. Look at them.
Hover the mouse cursor over each one and it will explain its function.
One of the most useful is a button that tells the total number of pages in your document.
This can be used to write Page XX out of YY.
You'll have to click on the appropriate buttons, and you'll have to type in the words "out of".
When you're done, click on the Close button.
Layout view displays the header or footer.
It looks gray.
Don't worry. It will print out dark like the rest of your text.
Normal view does not show the header and footer, but they will still print out.
If you are in Normal view then click File, Print Preview in order to see the header or footer.

Starting with Word 2007, you can click on the appropriate icon instead of the View menu item.

Yes, I know that headers and footers should not be in the View section. It should be in an Insert section. Go argue with Bill Gates.

Put any text or commands in the header, including tabs. They work the same way as in the document itself.

Those tabs are interesting. The center tab centers data around any point on a line. Click Tab again and you'll be on the right side of the page, with a right tab. That allows you to put in information such as the date or Besayyata DiShmaya all the way on the right side.

Click on Close at the end.

The result depends on the Word view that you're in. In Print Layout View the header or footer will show up in lighter gray text. In Normal view it won't show up, but don't worry - it's still there. It is hidden so that you can scroll more quickly.