Click any and you'll come to a screen with a basic description of the template, along with its average user rating. The main part of the screen, on the right, is taken up by more than two dozen templates for creating new documents - everything from simple, straightforward, single-spaced basic documents to flyers, party invitations, brochures and business cards. Word 2013's new Start screen lists documents you've recently opened, and shows thumbnails of templates you might want to use when creating a new document. To open a different document, click 'Open Other Documents' down at the bottom left of the screen. The left-hand side of the screen is given over to a list of the most recent documents you've worked on.

Like Windows 8 and 8.1, Word 2013 shows a Start screen when you launch it. (Click image to enlarge.) The Start screen On the bottom is the Ribbon in the touch-based interface - notice the larger icons and more space between them. On top is what the Ribbon looks like using the traditional mouse-based interface. In the touch-based interface, the icons on the Ribbon are enlarged and there is more space between them, making it easier to tap the one you want without accidentally tapping another. The mouse-based interface is the default. On your touch-based device, click or tap the small icon of a hand with an upright index finger that's on the top left of the screen and you'll be able to choose between a mouse-based or touch-based interface. If you're using a touch-based device, you can change Word's interface slightly to make it easier to use. Word 2013 can be optimized for either the mouse or touch. (Click image to enlarge.)īeyond the basic look, though, the Ribbon behaves as it did in Word 2010, with a couple of enhancements that we'll get to later. Word 2013 has a flatter look than previous versions of Word. The Ribbon is now flat instead of three-dimensional, as are all dialog boxes and screens. Even though Word is a traditional desktop app, Word 2013's style follows the basic guidelines that Microsoft has set for its so-called Windows apps (formerly called Metro or Modern apps) that debuted with Windows 8. The most obvious change in Word 2013 is its overall look.

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