Word: Assign a keyboard shortcut to a task

I’ve given instructions before on how to assign a keyboard shortcut for a particular task. However, the instructions below are more generic and show you how to apply a keyboard shortcut to ANY Word task, such as a standard function for which there’s no default keyboard shortcut, or perhaps to a macro you’ve recorded.

Here’s how…

Word 2007

1. Click the small drop-down arrow at the very right of your Quick Access Toolbar (QAT).
   
2. Select More Commands.
   
3. Click the Customize button.
   
4. On the Customize Keyboard window, select one of the options from the Categories list (1 in the screen shot below), then the select the relevant task from the Commands list (2).
   
5. Put your cursor in the Press new shortcut key field, then press the key combination you want to use for this action (3). (In the example above, I pressed Alt and c — you can press whatever key combination you think you will remember easily. Just make sure that it’s not currently assigned to another action by checking the Currently assigned to information below the Current keys box).
6. Optional: You can save your keyboard shortcut in a specific template. By default, the ‘Normal’ template is selected.
7. Click Assign (4), then click Close (5).

You’re now ready to use this keyboard shortcut in your document, and in any document you create based on the selected template.

Word 2003

1. Go to Tools > Customize on the menu.
2. Select the Commands tab.
3. Click the Keyboard button (bottom of the dialog box).
4. Select an option from the Categories list (1 in the screen shot below).
5. Select an action from the Commands list (2).
   
6. Put your cursor in the Press new shortcut key field, then press the key combination you want to use for this action (3). (In the example above, I pressed Alt and c — you can press whatever key combination you think you will remember easily. Just make sure that it’s not currently assigned to another action by checking the Currently assigned to information below the Current keys box).
7. Optional: You can save your keyboard shortcut in a specific template. By default, the ‘Normal’ template is selected.
8. Click Assign (4), then click Close (5).

You’re now ready to use this keyboard shortcut in your document, and in any document you create based on the selected template.

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