OFF97: Controlling How and When the Office Assistant Appears

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Access 97 for Windows
• Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Office Binder 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

When you run any of the programs included with Microsoft Office 97 and you use a lower screen resolution (640 x 480, for example) or if you have many windows open or if your screen is very cluttered, you may find that the Office Assistant window is too obtrusive. You can use the information in this article to control how and when the Office Assistant appears.

MORE INFORMATION

All of the programs in Microsoft Office 97 include the Office Assistant. It is available to help you with any questions or problems that you have. To ask the Office Assistant a question, click its window, and then type your question. If the Office Assistant window is not visible, click the Office Assistant toolbar button on the standard toolbar.

By default, the Office Assistant is always visible. However, you can make the Office Assistant appear only when you have a question by performing the following steps:

1. Right-click in the Office Assistant window. On the shortcut menu, click Options.

2. In the Assistant Capabilities section of the dialog box, there are a number of check boxes. Each check box has the following functionality:

      Check box              Functionality
      -------------------------------------------------------------------
   
      Help with wizards      If selected, the Assistant asks if you want
                             help whenever you use a Wizard.
   
      Display alerts         If selected, all alerts are shown in "word
                             bubbles" by the Assistant. If not selected,
                             alerts are shown in normal dialog boxes.
   
      Guess help topics      If selected, the Assistant guesses which help
                             topics you want to see, based on your actions.
   
      Respond to F1 key      If selected, pressing F1 displays the
                             Assistant and prompts you for a question. If
                             not selected, pressing F1 displays the Help
                             Topics window for the current application.
   
      Move when in the way   If selected, the Assistant window moves away
                             from the cursor when you are typing. If not
                             selected, the Assistant window may hide or
                             obscure what you are trying to edit.
   
      If you want the Assistant to display only when you need to ask a
      question, clear the "Help with wizards", "Display alerts", and "Guess
      help topics" check boxes. Make sure that the "Respond to F1 key" check
      box is selected.
   
   

3. Click OK.

To make the Assistant disappear, you can either:

• Click the small control button in the upper-right corner of the Assistant window.

  -or-

• Right-click in the Assistant window, and then click Hide Assistant.