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A Question for Document-Savvy People

by traces2757
6 replies
I am building my own article template to help me streamline the writing process. I'm constantly working on writing more articles per day without sacrificing quality.

Im using Open Office, which has most of what MS Word has (so if you're only familiar with MS Word, your knowledge would still probably work with Open Office). What I want to do is put text boxes in my document that will not resize as I write. I want to only be able to put so many words in them. This is to help me be even more succinct in my writing.

I can't figure out how to do it. Adding one-cell tables as text boxes doesn't work because they grow as you write--even before you get to the bottom of the cell.

I don't see an option for inserting other kinds of text boxes. I feel that I'm probably missing something. I'm sure there is a way to do it; I see documents with these type of text boxes all the time.

I'd appreciate any advice!
#documentsavvy #people #question
  • Profile picture of the author DeePower
    Tracy: you don't need text boxes to do this. If you want a 250 word article that's about half a page in Times New Roman size 12 font with one inch margins all around. 400 - 450 words is about a full page.

    Dee
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    • Profile picture of the author traces2757
      Originally Posted by DeePower View Post

      Tracy: you don't need text boxes to do this. If you want a 250 word article that's about half a page in Times New Roman size 12 font with one inch margins all around. 400 - 450 words is about a full page.

      Dee
      Yes, this much I do know; but I'm making a template that will break my articles into separate paragraphs, and I want a text box for each paragraph. Even though I can eyeball fairly well and decide when I've written 100, 250, 400 words, etc., I still have a tendency to write for too long. Though I've never had a complaint from a client (they get more words for their money!), I still want to force myself to tighten things up a bit, since it will help me squeeze more articles into a day. Thus, I'm making the template to help train myself to keep my word count smaller (when I need to.)

      Thank you, though, Dee...I appreciate you taking the time to respond!
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      Tracy S

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  • Profile picture of the author write-stuff
    Maybe this is too obvious, but does a running word count show at the bottom of the docment while you edit it?
    - Russ
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    • Profile picture of the author traces2757
      Originally Posted by write-stuff View Post

      Maybe this is too obvious, but does a running word count show at the bottom of the docment while you edit it?
      - Russ
      No, it looks like Open Office doesn't have that. Actually I never could find how to install that in MS Word, either. A running word count would be great!

      I ended up inserting frame boxes into the template. The boxes do expand, but only when the text gets to the bottom, so I think that should work. I made them just large enough to hold a certain amount of words (approximately, of course.)

      I'm still wondering if there are text boxes I could insert in the document that would truly limit the amount of words I can put in them. Google hasn't given me any clues.
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      Tracy S

      Morningdove Jewelry - Unique and Fun!

      Internet Content Proofreading/Editing

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      • Profile picture of the author sylviad
        If you right-click on the edge of the text box, you will get a drop-down menu. Choose Edit text box. The next window will allow you to set the text box so it will not change shape (resize autoshape to fit). Uncheck that option.

        Now, it won't stop you from writing beyond the confines of the box size. You just won't be able to see the content that will keep running invisibly below the box. If you manually grab the box and enlarge it, that hidden text will show.

        I don't think there's an option to do what you want.

        However, it's far easier to simply do as Tracy said.

        Also, you can set your page size in Word to whatever length a 250-word article will run. Then, when you get to the bottom of the page, you'll know you're done.

        Sylvia
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        • Profile picture of the author traces2757
          Originally Posted by sylviad View Post

          If you right-click on the edge of the text box, you will get a drop-down menu. Choose Edit text box. The next window will allow you to set the text box so it will not change shape (resize autoshape to fit). Uncheck that option.

          Now, it won't stop you from writing beyond the confines of the box size. You just won't be able to see the content that will keep running invisibly below the box. If you manually grab the box and enlarge it, that hidden text will show.

          I don't think there's an option to do what you want.

          However, it's far easier to simply do as Tracy said.

          Also, you can set your page size in Word to whatever length a 250-word article will run. Then, when you get to the bottom of the page, you'll know you're done.

          Sylvia
          Thank you for the tips Sylvia...and everyone!
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          Tracy S

          Morningdove Jewelry - Unique and Fun!

          Internet Content Proofreading/Editing

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