Drafting in Microsoft Word-2000

If you really like MS products Visio is a far better choice for the purpose you describe.

I would not in a thousand years recommend MS word, or visio for this purpose... YIKES!

You stated "engineering drafting"

Check out www.UGS.com they have a free 2d drafting for Solid Edge. This is a tool designed for exactly "engineering drafting" and it's not as convoluted as AutoCAD.

I work with AutoCad 2007 and Vellum Ashlar. But I has discovered that Word-2000 capable to perform drafting, even 3D with shades and lights, and many other CAD assisting functions.

Therefore, I am not looking for help to select software.

I am looking for, just, customizing arrows in the Word-2000.

It will likely take you longer to figure out how to do this in Word, than to learn to use new software.

Word is too hard to use for that, so I just switch over to PowerPoint and do it there (very very easy to customise), then make a pdf file of my 'sketch'.

I do all my drafting work in notepad using ascii art so, who am I kidding?

Yes -Yikes- You are correct, I was attempting to give the original question an option that is somewhat better than Word. All of the programs that all responders have mentioned are far superior --- and most of them also come with a handsome price tag. The price is well worth it.

Right click on an arrow and select format auto shapes

I am talking about customizing "arrow style" on the Drawing toolbar.

My customers do not have any CAD software, but Word-2000 to open my design attachment in e-mail.

use CAD of some sort please! then print to PDF. it's free.

Again, I am looking for customizing "arrow style" in "Draw toolbal" only.

I am not looking for anything more.

Go ahead, guys.

If you've ever learned drifting, you'll not use Word or any non-cad software.

For one what you draw in Word may not to scale. So what you draw may not even be made.

Please I've seen too many bad drawings from too many self-taught drafters. Don't try to create more.

My dear Guest,

Yes, I have never learned "drifting" but for 25 years I am working with AutoCad and with other Cads.

Believe me, it is possible to make drawing to scale in Word as well.

My designs in Word have been manufactured, installed and working for years.

It was time when I considered the Word as software only for word-processing. But now ....

Try it!

I'd rather shoot myself in the foot. sorry.

But, in keeping with your original question, I'm not clear on exactly what you want to do?

Would you like to set up a template of your own default arrow heads so that when you open a new doc, you're all ready to go?

Do not shoot yourself in the your foot, please.

I do not want to set up a template of my own default arrow heads.

I want to choose my desirable one among of available styles and make it default. It means, I try to avoid a process of each time selection of the same desirable style.

I hope you will get my drift.

I have word 2003, but I hope it's the same for you...

I did the following:

1. open a new document

2. draw an arrow

3. edit the arrow as desired

4. right click on the arrow and select "Set Autoshape Defaults"

5. then save the document as a .dot template

If you use the .dot you created for subsequent new documents, the default arrows will be as you configured them originally.

hope that's what you are looking for.

This way I have to go to choose AutoShapes, and then to choose my arrow. I do not want that.

I want to click "Arrow Style" in Drawing Tool Bar (on the screen) and to get my desirable arrows. It is not the AutoShapes.

Thanks

C-NET has quite a few forums devoted to Microsoft Office.

http://forums.cnet.com/5204-6129_102-0.html?forumID=29&tag=forum.fd

The above URL will get your arrowhead pointed in a better direction

than in this forum. It reads kind of obvious, that the crowd here doesn't

understand what you're trying to achieve, and to explain it to them,

would only open up another thread on "Why?"

I would also agree that Word has very usable drafting attributes

that most any talented/creative draftsman could/can find useful in a pinch.

Ask the same original question in the C-NET forum, and you'll likely get

the answer(s) you really need.

John

Dear John, thanks for your advice. I am already in action.

Only you have understood me. I am Regestered Professional Mechanical Engineer, and I am working with differant CADs (including AutoCad 2007).

But, I need to make the desirable arrow style as defolt, replacing already existing one, to speed grafting.

Alex

passing judgement on the "crowd here" the way you have is a little unprofessional if you ask me...

It would seem that although noone said it outright at the beginning, WORD is not a drafting tool.

It's like using a fingernail file to cut down a tree when you've got a fully gassed up chainsaw sitting next to the tree waiting with a big red light above it and a sign that says, "chainsaw available for cutting down trees quickly and effectively"

The fact that a user has to go searching through forums to set up a custom arrow head or whatever he couldn't quite explain to us, is a perfect indicator of the fact that WORD is a horrible drafting tool.

You pass judgement on the "crowd here" and look like a holy saviour to the gentleman, and you didn't even solve the problem, if you understand what he's looking for, as you indicate you do, then why point him to some other forum, where he'll find out the same thing... It can't be done.

If you learn in depth the drafting capacity of Word you will change your mind. Each owner of computer has the Word and therefore capable to open the drawings. But not everybody has CAD.

I had problems with my customers who had CAD but not what I have used.

Now, I have solved the problem.

I had the same opinion about Word as you , but when I learned more I have changed my view.