[techtalk] WORD/G-Docs - Create Perfect Lines for Forms

Wed Apr 17 14:35:36 PDT 2024

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Draw lines of different lengths

[https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/34916cb2-412f-43fa-8294-1f7ecb0e9a3d.png]

[video link for perfect lines tip]<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0010PGdxcm_Lf3RYufYzNbHyx-0misnPVsVQdqfrRJyPNjB9-ewYaBP3Is3LwgFLpuuduZXzcQIy4GmKKqsJcB2IkJQ1zZEreB4U_Yn6OljBfadJU8-Qhb3Yp4ROTPqanHmi3pncdxLlwSpUZSXZf12Etn5RmW4RXsJ3ohIo_a0Alf_da9ChbwLzWRbOoI3r23aOydHOryQTKvE8OOn2hwbgQ==&c=2V3ldvg_3bRXee5nCIoSxdjjSGD0unr22Do7AGiWIlGIuJKxvG8V6Q==&ch=I6ch7zjXbsKJl2XzCUBkj4LMrfCKukEOfKd2dBaVmhb6srnqat3jEg==>

Photo by Andy He<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0010PGdxcm_Lf3RYufYzNbHyx-0misnPVsVQdqfrRJyPNjB9-ewYaBP3JTtOziOSeuW0eLkqV5J1YP1TWIIKTATbOaxpdmWnHGvQp-zsdiZRW86TUJSKa5jPAz4dz5NL6McoIdvi_ODWLTnZGDTVWvgDfTZ1rHfzECk-wmFhcbJpGvxivr4tHPBia2TGXHmoAWPceFNx4ZeaVN1l58lB-YwUSQ4MY8MK21jSSH72kWWDwnUmUzi2sqoppR2vPOtLhbXpkV6t1gCU-Q=&c=2V3ldvg_3bRXee5nCIoSxdjjSGD0unr22Do7AGiWIlGIuJKxvG8V6Q==&ch=I6ch7zjXbsKJl2XzCUBkj4LMrfCKukEOfKd2dBaVmhb6srnqat3jEg==> on Unsplash<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0010PGdxcm_Lf3RYufYzNbHyx-0misnPVsVQdqfrRJyPNjB9-ewYaBP3Is3LwgFLpuuF5K5ZcY2cYFkgwSRFWlra6Ny7s7gA_zqzPw3GKd_Zc_dTXxNWc-iVoeSQMGhCpgIdc4mpBwpAcQc2V5lILmen1HKbD458EZAGG0HtL8P4Toa-Suk4PiQXlbK6_7ghUOxIGmNvDF6uRvj2pRRZsvH3QS5GTihf2qv0TGb_b_ObL3Fjt7s4Wotbpm_nORctepqYP1TXsAfbMPLD0hwyTV72e2PMe9H_h5Ho-6yK5cyrStgSdqxdss9s68RrDnKch3lKTyopX1H_44=&c=2V3ldvg_3bRXee5nCIoSxdjjSGD0unr22Do7AGiWIlGIuJKxvG8V6Q==&ch=I6ch7zjXbsKJl2XzCUBkj4LMrfCKukEOfKd2dBaVmhb6srnqat3jEg==>

[https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/e25f6bcf-26a8-4e59-91f2-cc248962042d.png]<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0010PGdxcm_Lf3RYufYzNbHyx-0misnPVsVQdqfrRJyPNjB9-ewYaBP3Fnmbe7j5FSxDoFpc-1R8YOOh9a6MlXubbkhEs-CSCX0W-owmNGdWIx1GYYCrPMfpBAMNlTxGG8vFaYPO5cuTv2o10Y3-1GPbknOdsNGxMAo&c=2V3ldvg_3bRXee5nCIoSxdjjSGD0unr22Do7AGiWIlGIuJKxvG8V6Q==&ch=I6ch7zjXbsKJl2XzCUBkj4LMrfCKukEOfKd2dBaVmhb6srnqat3jEg==>

Webinars for You

NOTE: All webinars begin at 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT / 1 pm MT / 12 Noon PT and are one hour long.

·     April 24: [COMMUNICATE] Leadership Communications: Tools and Techniques, Part 1

·     May 8: [EMAIL] Getting Started with the "New" Outlook for Windows

·     May 22: [COMMUNICATE] Leadership Communications: Winning Words, Part 2

·     June 12: [WEB TOOLS] Amazingly Helpful Tips for Getting a Book Published

View Webinars and Register Here<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0010PGdxcm_Lf3RYufYzNbHyx-0misnPVsVQdqfrRJyPNjB9-ewYaBP3NHI3rTARhSuG1bzvmRd6j7HO56DxXxlZCKJmtlM_1UNl6w-RJHSThdbIpgmI0fGAXk0uEvg1VIni5Ba2upDbScX9mTKOutKpS16-IXbLiP0vuGGpnpEVS4=&c=2V3ldvg_3bRXee5nCIoSxdjjSGD0unr22Do7AGiWIlGIuJKxvG8V6Q==&ch=I6ch7zjXbsKJl2XzCUBkj4LMrfCKukEOfKd2dBaVmhb6srnqat3jEg==>

WORD/G-Docs - Create Perfect Lines for Forms

Novice

Have you ever been frustrated when creating something in Word or Google Docs where you need to add lines? You may be making a sign-up form or want to use a short horizontal line as a separator. Or you may require a fill-in-the-blank kind of list with lines for writing answers.

You could just tap the underscore key to give the look of one long line, but it often appears "broken" with the right margin ragged and inconsistent. This does not give your document a sharp feel.

Drawing a line as a "shape" could work, but it's a bit clumsy to use. When you make changes to your document the line may not move with the text as you would like.

[shows drawn lines that are not even]

There is actually a shortcut for creating a line that is fluid and leaves the margin with a clean, even appearance. This trick uses Underline formatting with Tabs.

Create Perfect Lines in Your Word Document

A quick and easy way to add solid lines that will break evenly at the margin is to use the Underline feature and Tab function together.

For instance, we re-made the example above with this better technique:

[shows lines that break evening in the right margin]

To create lines with the Underline and Tab...

On the first line, type the content you want right before the line.
·     Add a space for a little bit of separation between the word and the line.
·     Next click on the Underline formatting function (or as a shortcut, Ctrl U).
·     Use your Tab key to tab over as many times as you would like the line to be long. If you want the line to break at the right margin, stop there.
·     Press Enter to go to a new line.
·     Be sure to turn OFF the Underline tool by clicking the U in the toolbar (or Ctrl U) so your new text is not underlined.

Enter the text for the next line.
·     Add a space.
·     Tab over as many times as you would like the line to display.
·     Keep repeating this pattern by turning ON the Underline when you want to create a line and then turning it OFF where you do not want it.

[draw a ine]

NOTE: Even if you add multiple breaks of text in one row (as in the above example with City, State and Zip in one line), the right margin will end at the same place as the above rows.

Create Perfect Lines in a Google Doc

Google Docs does not have the same ability to use a tab and the underscore feature to create lines. So you can either draw a line or insert a series of special character whitespace underlines.

Draw a Line

·     In a Google Doc, from the menu select Insert, then Drawing, and New.
·     Choose the Line icon from the menu and draw your line.
·     Click the Save and close button to return to the document.
·     When the Line appears in the Doc, you can click on it to highlight and drag it around on the page, lengthen or shorten it.

[draw a line in a Google Doc]

Add a Line with Special Characters

·     Put your cursor where you want the line to begin.
·     Click the Underline text icon in the toolbar.
·     Then, in the menu go to Insert, and choose Special Characters.
·     Under "Insert special characters," in the left drop-down menu select Format & Whitespace, and in the right menu select Whitespace.
·     Click on the ninth box from the left, Punctuation Space.
·     Keep clicking that box until the line is as long as you wish.
·     NOTE: A third drop-down box will apper displaying Categories after you make your initial selections.

[insert a line as a special character]

NOTE: If you just want a full-width horizontal line as a divider, go to the menu and choose Insert, then Horizontal line. The line will be added from the left to the right margin and cannot be resized.

[https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/f8f1ecc8-4884-4c21-8ed0-cf647e6db944.png]

Communication: 6 Listening Skills

#1: "Look at the person

Would you like to be considered a good listener? Most people would, but go on their merry way doing most of the talking. Listening is more than keeping your mouth shut and hearing what the other person has to say.

A great listener not only takes in the info, they convey to the speaker that they are hearing and understanding in several ways. This pays off big time.

One technique to do this is to look at the person who is speaking. That may seem obvious, but most of the time our eyes wander when we're listening. And sometimes we think we can be doing other things while we're listening. That has us looking elsewhere.

Looking at the speaker shows respect. It shows interest. It shows attentiveness.

Make it a point to actually look at the speaker. Do a self-review and see how often you use this technique.

[https://files.constantcontact.com/ee1208b4001/b13a7a6a-7445-4d8e-b741-4b475385ef5b.png]<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0010PGdxcm_Lf3RYufYzNbHyx-0misnPVsVQdqfrRJyPNjB9-ewYaBP3HE2ebRhrbr0OXxUUo1PIg7qpwTmXakchGTVY2n3itsmI_ObY0Gm2v3-2gb-TxCEhI7IM3_mzAxQICopFAQJloNLK5weOTn-Z4NFFK79ZScT5XgeZPW3Kog=&c=2V3ldvg_3bRXee5nCIoSxdjjSGD0unr22Do7AGiWIlGIuJKxvG8V6Q==&ch=I6ch7zjXbsKJl2XzCUBkj4LMrfCKukEOfKd2dBaVmhb6srnqat3jEg==>

[Ask a question]<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0010PGdxcm_Lf3RYufYzNbHyx-0misnPVsVQdqfrRJyPNjB9-ewYaBP3AnIeMCbBmtKoeQcPhpqyrvJA8CvXovKypgD2a3SRgObuBTzgZTFjDUlRwtdMnYU7QObWnJcNNBmxF5kmyNAFHt6P3g1kaIaeBwEHwC-LuRK27VDdHXjRwY=&c=2V3ldvg_3bRXee5nCIoSxdjjSGD0unr22Do7AGiWIlGIuJKxvG8V6Q==&ch=I6ch7zjXbsKJl2XzCUBkj4LMrfCKukEOfKd2dBaVmhb6srnqat3jEg==>

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Cheers,
Darci Hanning, MLIS (she/her/hers)
Public Library Consultant / CE Coordinator
Continuing Education Resources: https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/conted

State Library of Oregon | Library Support and Development Services
971-375-3491 | darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov> | www.oregon.gov/library<http://www.oregon.gov/library>
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