Do you need to make diagrams in Word but you don't know why you have never done it? Don't worry, today we want to help you and for this we are going to explain step by step everything you should do to build them.
Actually, there are several tricks that can help you, so take a look at everything we have collected to help you make outlines in Word easily. Shall we start?
How to Make Outlines in Word
As you know, Word is one of the most used office programs in Windows. However, it has several versions and that sometimes makes taking the steps not so easy, especially since there may be some changes between them that make you lose a little. But if you use the latest versions, The steps you should take to make outlines in Word are the following:
- Open Word. We recommend that you do it first with a blank document before doing it in the document where you want to have the outline, more than anything so that you can practice beforehand.
- Then go to the top menu and hit View. It will be to the right of the menu that appears.
- Once in view, you will see that a part that says "Views" appears. It's a section within Vista so you'll have to hit it there.
- Now hit Schema.
- An outline will automatically be created in the document. In fact, it will give you a template so you can start writing what you want.
However, we understand that sometimes you may need to have more levels, or sub-levels. Don't worry. We explain it to you.
How to put levels
Since you have made the outline in Word, you will see that you can put the first title, which will correspond to title 1 and level one of the outline. That is, it will be where all the others come from.
We give you an example to make it easier for you to understand. Imagine that what you want to do is an outline about World War I. Well, that title 1 and level one is the same, World War I, because everything else that you are going to talk about is going to be related to this one.
The other subtitles, which would be title 2, could be Introduction, Characteristics, Important dates...
And now you will ask, and how do they put these).
In the template it will come out by default, but it is true that when you get to the end you will have to create them yourself. If you look at the menu at the top, when you point to one of the levels it shows if it is level 2, 3, 4, 1... That is what makes it change to titles 1, 2, 3, 4... And That is what you need to keep in mind.
What if you want to put a level 2 and then dots inside it? If you look closely, where it says in the Level 2 menu you have an arrow to the right and another to the left (and then two arrows to the right and left). If you hit the simple arrow it will make a kind of indentation and it will put what you write within that level 2, which is exactly what you want to happen.
When you're done, you can hit the opposite arrow to bring him back to the main level or even a higher level if you need to.
This way you can build a basic schematic for whatever you need.
Make more elaborate outlines in Word
If what you need is to make more elaborate schemes, for example a concept map or a shape scheme, although the steps are just as simple, it is true that it may cost you a little more at first.
For example, if we build a conceptual map, with arrows and other details, The steps you will have to take are the following:
- Open Word and a new document.
- In the menu, find Insert. Choose the Shapes option. This will open a new section where you will be able to choose the shape you want (a square, a circle, a rectangle, a triangle...).
- You have to press and hold the shape and move it into the document to create it and thus determine the size that it will have. It will allow you to choose the background color as well as the outline or fill.
- When you're done, right-click on the shape and hit "add text."
- All you have to do is write what you want and format it.
With this you would have level 1, with the text you need. And you will only have to repeat this with all the levels you want (we advise you to go level by level, that is, first level 1, then 2, then 3...). This way it is easier to organize everything, especially since you can place them however you want.
But you will say, and the arrows? And the relationship? Wait, we're not done yet.
- Now that you have all the shapes created, it is the turn of the keys or arrows. To do this, follow the following:
- Go to the Insert menu again. Go back to Shapes.
- Choose the key you want to join the different boxes you have made. You just have to insert it and give it the right size to fit with the levels (you can also move these if you see that it doesn't match well).
With this we would finish the steps since it would be complete.
Other ways to make outlines in Word
In addition to those ways that we have explained to you, which in a way would be the "manual" ways, there are two other ways to make outlines in Word.
Using SmartArt
SmartArt is one of the functions that Word has and that it makes you, through templates, schemes faster, and we could even say that it is also more visual.
It allows you to choose between several options and, although not all of them will be there, you have a variety and you can surely find one that suits what you need.
Templates
The second option that you can also consider is templates. These can be easily found on the internet, both free and paid, and some of them are quite attractive.
The best thing you can do is practice before doing anything serious because that way you'll know what to do when you press each key and you'll get used to using Word in this way (and not just as a text editor). Do you have doubts about how to make diagrams in Word? Ask us!