How to Save Documents in Microsoft Word 2003 - A Step-by-Step Guide of File Saving Options - ARCHIVED

How to Save Documents in Microsoft Word 2003 - A Step-by-Step Guide of File Saving Options - ARCHIVED
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2008 and has been placed in our archive.

Microsoft Word 2003

Setting up a document to save in Microsoft Word can be done in just a few easy steps, after which you can quickly save with one key stroke or set AutoSave options to save mechanically. Note that these instructions were developed for users of Word 2003. If you are using another version of the software, the steps may be slightly different.

1. Selecting “Save” from the File Menu

If this is the first time you are saving this file, you will be brought to the “Save As” screen. First, select which folder you would like your file to appear in, or create a folder by selecting “Create New Folder.” Then, name your file by clicking the white “File Name” box. Just below this box you will see the “Save as type” drop-down menu and from here you have the option of saving your file as the following formats : Word Document, XML Document, Single File Web Page, Web Page, Filtered, Document Template, Rich Text Format, Plain Text, Word 97 – 2003 & 6.0/95 RTF, Works 4x, Works 6.0 & 7.0, and Works 7.0.

2. Quickly Saving

Once you’ve named your file, designated where it will appear, and what type of file it is, you can quickly save by clicking the picture of a disk that is located just below the Edit Menu found at the top right of the screen. If you would like to save your file in multiple folders, select the “Save As” option found in the File Menu and repeat Step 1.

3. Automatically Saving

AutoSave isn’t a replacement for manually saving your file but it is a good option for backing up your work, and I recommend taking the time to enable this feature. To set up AutoSave, go to your Tool Menu and select “Options.” In this menu you will find a tab titled “Save” and from here you can set the following AutoSave features: Always create backup copy, Allow fast saves, Embed TrueType fonts, Prompt for document properties, Prompt to save Normal template, Save data only for forms, Embed linguistic data, Make local copy of files stored on network or removable drives, Save AutoRecover info every: (choose your increment) minutes, Embed smart tags, Save smart tags as XML properties in Web pages, Save Word files as: (choose your preferred type), and Disable features introduced after (click to enable).

It is important to select an increment of time for AutoSave/AutoRecovery. These two options are your first defense in retrieving data in an unforeseen emergency such as your program freezing or a power failure. And remember to save manually, make back-ups, and save often!

This article has been placed in our archives.

This post is part of the series: Instructions in Microsoft Word

This series brings you step-by-step instructions to unlocking the full potential of Microsoft Word.

  1. How to Install & Learn to Use Microsoft Word 2003
  2. How to Save a Document in MS Word 2003
  3. How to Make a Line in MS Word 2003
  4. Microsoft Word 2003: How to Type in Spanish