12-17-2011, 06:54 AM

I work in Word all day long and really don't like staring at a bright light for hours on end. So for years I've changed the text background (ie the color of the "paper" not the screen color) to a buff color, or restful green. To do this in Word 2008, you just had to go under Format>Background.

But in Word 2011, Background is no longer there. And when you search Help it isn't anywhere--at least not as a separate feature. In my several searches all I've found is Themes. But Themes offers a collection of multiple presets--for Font, Text Color, Background, and many other things. I tried that, but it doesn't allow you to change the font back to something reasonable, without losing the background color as well. The only other option I"ve found is "Go into PowerPoint and create your own custom Theme there, then it will be available in Word." It seems ridiculous to have to learn another huge program I don't use for anything else to access a simple feature like this.

I must be missing some simple solution--can anyone tell me what it is?

Thanks,

GB

12-17-2011, 01:18 PM

The single background change available in Word 2011 is a Blue background with White text. I also seem to remember that being the only setting in Word 2008. Are you sure you weren't using themes or a specific theme in Word 2008 to provide a buff background with white text?

I also checked Word 2010 (Windows version) and it's the same setting. (White text on Blue background.)

12-17-2011, 01:34 PM

You're right that White Text on Blue Background was the only color scheme available under Preferences.

I'm 99% sure it's Word 2008 I'm talking about. (Can't check at the moment because I don't have that laptop here.) In earlier versions of Word, in order to work with a different colour background, you had to be in Web view. When you switched back to Print View, the background changed back to white.

But in 2008, under Format, there is actually an option for Background, where you can change it while in Print View, which is what I use all the time. There's even a button for it that you can put on your toolbar (through View>Toolbars>Customize Toolbars & Menus), which I have done.

Right now what I've done for the newer machine is I've copied a Word doc, thus formatted from the older Mac, into 2011. I've saved it as a template, and in various forms so I can use it for work. But having that option was a nifty little feature and I miss it. I'll check again the version I"m talking about but I'm pretty sure it's 2008. In all cases I'm talking about Word/Office for Mac.

12-17-2011, 01:39 PM

Right now what I've done for the newer machine is I've copied a Word doc, thus formatted, into 2011. I've saved it as a template, and in various forms so I can use it for work. But having that option was a nifty little feature and I miss it. I'll check again the version I"m talking about but I'm pretty sure it's 2008. In all cases I'm talking about Word/Office for Mac.

The template solution is actually a nifty idea. I have use this method myself with Windows Word (various versions) whenever I needed a special background or style.

I still have my copy of Office 2008 but it's not on this machine. I use it on my notebook (MacBook) while using 2011 on the iMac where I do most of my work. If I get some time today, I'll check to see if I can change the background color using the method you wrote about.

12-17-2011, 06:40 PM

On the ribbon: Layout tab, towards the right side-Page Background/color.
That what you're looking for?

12-17-2011, 08:46 PM

Those are page theme colors which he said he already tried in his first post. But yes, that works.

12-21-2011, 05:04 PM

Thanks, Cradom! That is exactly what I was looking for. (It was the Theme Colors I had tried before. I didn't know what the Ribbon was, and my Layout tab was way to the left.)

The Ribbon takes up a lot of space on my laptop screen, so I'd like to put that Page Background, or at least Page Color, on the Formatting or Standard toolbars but I can't seem to do it.

BTW, it IS Word 2008 on the other Mac.

12-21-2011, 07:44 PM

OK. You never mentioned that you were not using the Ribbon. That particular item for the theme colors and layout does not appear in the standard toolbar. That's why I thought you had tried it. Anyway, all is well.... have fun and visit us often.

04-04-2013, 01:19 AM

Sorry for bumping such an old thread but I wanted to let y'all know that I actually found the feature in Word 2011 (mac).

You go to Word > Preferences > General > Blue Background, White Text

Works like a charm =D

04-04-2013, 01:35 AM

Look back at Post # 2. You'll see we already covered that a long time ago, but welcome to the Mac Forums!