Accessibility features in Publisher

Microsoft Publisher includes features that make the software accessible to a wider range of users, including those who have limited dexterity, low vision, or other disabilities.

Keyboard shortcuts

Show or hide shortcut keys in ScreenTips

  1. On the Tools menu, click Customize.

  2. Click the Options tab.

  3. Under Other, select or clear the Show ScreenTips on toolbars and Show shortcut keys in ScreenTips check boxes.

Note   Changing this setting affects all of your Microsoft Office programs.

Size and zoom options

Zoom in on or out of a document

You can "zoom in" to get a close-up view of your document.

Change the size of a toolbar button or drop-down list box

Do one of the following:

Increase the size of toolbar buttons

  1. On the Tools menu, click Customize.
  2. Click the Options tab.
  3. Select the Large icons check box.

Change the width of a drop-down list box on a toolbar

  1. Make sure the toolbar you want to change is visible.

    How?

    1. On the View menu, point to Toolbars.
    2. Do one of the following:
      • Click the toolbar you want to display.
      • To view more toolbars, click Customize. In the Customize dialog box, click the Toolbars tab, and then select the check box for the toolbar you want to display. Click Close.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Customize.
  3. With the Customize dialog box open, click the list box you want to change — for example, the Font Font or Font Size Font Size box box on the Formatting toolbar.
  4. Point to the left or right edge of the box. When the pointer changes to a double-headed arrow, drag the edge of the box to change its width.

Scroll and zoom by using the Microsoft IntelliMouse or other pointing device

Some mouse devices and other pointing devices, such as the Microsoft IntelliMouse, have built-in scrolling and zooming capabilities. For more information, see the instructions for your pointing device.

Toolbar and menu options

Create a custom toolbar

  1. On the Tools menu, click Customize.
  2. Click the Toolbars tab.
  3. Click New.
  4. In the Toolbar name box, type the name you want, and then click OK.
  5. Click the Commands tab.
  6. Do one of the following:

    Add a button to the toolbar

    1. Click a category in the Categories box.
    2. Drag the command you want from the Commands box to the displayed toolbar.

    Add a built-in menu to the toolbar

    1. In the Categories box, click Built-in Menus.
    2. Drag the menu you want from the Commands box to the displayed toolbar.
  7. When you have added all the buttons and menus you want, click Close.

Group related buttons and menus on a toolbar

You can add a separator bar before the first and after the last item in a group to distinguish the group from other buttons and menus on a toolbar.

  1. Make sure the toolbar you want to change is visible.

    How?

    1. On the View menu, point to Toolbars.
    2. Do one of the following:
      • Click the toolbar you want to display.
      • To view more toolbars, click Customize. In the Customize dialog box, click the Toolbars tab, and then select the check box for the toolbar you want to display. Click Close.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Customize.
  3. To add a separator bar, keep the Customize dialog box open, right-click the button you want on the toolbar, and then click Begin a Group. A separator bar is added to the left of the button on a horizontal toolbar, and above a button on a vertical docked toolbar.
Note   To remove a separator bar between two buttons, drag one button closer to the other.

Add a button, menu, or command

Do one or both of the following:

Add a button, menu, or command to a toolbar

  1. Make sure the toolbar you want to change is visible.

    How?

    1. On the View menu, point to Toolbars.
    2. Do one of the following:
      • Click the toolbar you want to display.
      • To view more toolbars, click Customize. In the Customize dialog box, click the Toolbars tab, and then select the check box for the toolbar you want to display. Click Close.
  2. Click the Toolbar Options arrow.
  3. Point to Add or Remove Buttons, and then click Customize.
  4. Do one of the following:

    Add a button

    1. Click the Commands tab.
    2. In the Categories box, click a category for the command you want the button to perform.
    3. Drag the command you want from the Commands box to the displayed toolbar.

    Add a built-in menu to a toolbar

    1. Click the Commands tab.

    2. In the Categories box, click Built-in Menus.

    3. Drag the menu you want from the Commands box to the displayed toolbar.

    Add a custom menu to a toolbar

    1. Click the Commands tab.

    2. In the Categories box, click New Menu.

    3. Drag New Menu from the Commands box to the displayed toolbar.

    4. Right-click the new menu on the toolbar, type a name in the Name box on the shortcut menu, and then press ENTER.

  5. On the Customize dialog box, click Close.

Add a command to a menu

  1. If the menu you want to change is on a toolbar, make sure the toolbar is visible.

    How?

    1. On the View menu, point to Toolbars.
    2. Do one of the following:
      • Click the toolbar you want to display.
      • To view more toolbars, click Customize. In the Customize dialog box, click the Toolbars tab, and then select the check box for the toolbar you want to display. Click Close.
  2. On the View menu, point to Toolbars.
  3. Click Customize, and then click the Commands tab.
  4. In the Categories box, click a category for the command.
  5. Drag the command you want from the Commands box and, without releasing the mouse, rest it over the menu you want to change. When the menu displays a list of commands, point to where you want the command to appear, and then release the mouse.

Color and sound options

Change the color of text

  1. Select the text you want to change.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • To apply the color most recently used for text, click Font Color Font Color on the Formatting toolbar.

    • To apply a different color, click the arrow next to the Font Color button, and then select the color you want.

Turn sounds on or off for buttons, menus, and other screen elements

Do one or both of the following:

Turn on or off sound

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the General tab.
  2. Select or clear the Provide feedback with sound check box.

Note   Changing this setting will affect all of your Microsoft Office programs.

Change sounds

  1. Click the Microsoft Windows Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • In Microsoft Windows 2000 or later and Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, double-click the Sounds and Multimedia icon.
    • In Microsoft Windows 98, double-click the Sounds icon.
  3. In the Sound Events box, click the event you want.
  4. In the Name box, enter the sound you want.

Options for automating tasks

Collect and paste among programs

Collect items to paste

  1. Make sure that the Microsoft Office Clipboard is displayed in the task pane of any open Office program or the Collect Without Showing Office Clipboard option is turned on.
  2. Select the first item you want to copy.
  3. On the Standard toolbar, click Copy Copy.
  4. Continue copying items from documents in any Office program until you have collected all of the items you want (up to 24).

Paste collected items

  1. If the Microsoft Office Clipboard is not displayed in the task pane, click Office Clipboard on the Edit menu.

    Note   If the Office Clipboard is not available, you are in a program or view that doesn't support showing or pasting multiple items from the Office Clipboard.

  2. Click where you want the items to be pasted. You can paste collected items into any Microsoft Office program.
  3. Do one of the following: