In 1997, I had a VB script program another user had created and made freeware so that MS-Word users could enjoy most of the advantages of the WP Reveal Codes feature. Sadly, I have not been able to find the script code.
However, I was recently made aware of a commercial product originally announced in 2000, that will provide the true functionality of Reveal Codes for MS Word. Here is a blurb about CrossEyes, and then following is the best of how to make do with free simulators that can be used in MS Word 95 onward. The ability to edit is not available with these work-arounds.
CrossEyes v2.0 from "Levit & James"
CrossEyes will support all recent versions of Word, starting with Word 97. Single unit pricing starts at $75. Discounts are available for large orders and site licenses.
Lawyers forced to migrate from Corel's WordPerfect to Microsoft Word can stop whining about the lack of reveal codes in Word, with the release of CrossEyes, from Levit & James. An interface for Word that reveals the underlying code structure, it allows users to see all the coding that affects the formatting of text, says the Leesburg, Virginia, company. The coding appears in a window at the bottom of a document, clearly showing all the formatting that defines how a Word document behaves, says L&J. "CrossEyes solves the biggest complaint of Word users: figuring out what features in Word have been used to format text. Unlike WordPerfect, which has a reveal codes feature, Word does not provide a native feature where a typist can see all of the codes and formatting options used to format text, in line with the text. CrossEyes provides this capability, and a number of other editing and navigation tools that simplify the use of Word."
When a typist clicks on the CrossEyes button in Word, a window is created at the bottom of the document window that shows all formatting information in line with the text. Each of the formatting options in the Word object model, such as character and paragraph formatting, section breaks, etc., is shown in a different color. In addition, a typist can view table information, such as the cell address and all forms of field codes, each in its own color. CrossEyes shows each formatting option the way it is stored in Word. For example, paragraph information, such as a style, is shown next to the paragraph mark character, both in the same color. Information associated with sections, such as columns or page margins, are shown with the section break.
Simulating Reveal Codes in Word
The closest you can get to reveal codes is to display the complete formatting information that Word is applying to a character or paragraph. You can do this by pressing Shift+F1. (In Word 6 or Word 95, you can also click on the toolbar tool that shows a mouse pointer with a question mark. In Word 97 and up, you can choose What's This? from the Help menu.) This causes the mouse pointer to change to an arrow with a question mark beside it. Now click on the character or paragraph in question.
When you do this, Word displays a "balloon" that looks like the dialog balloons used in some cartoons. The balloon contains detailed information about the formatting of the character you pointed to, as well as the paragraph in which the character appears. You now have two options: Click on a different character to see more formatting information or press ESC to make the balloons go away and return the mouse pointer to normal.
The book Word 2000 Concepts explains why there is no native Word Reveal Codes for WordPerfect users. Editing and formatting text: unlike the formatting codes used in WordPerfect, Word applies formatting directly to text, so text in a Word document displays exactly as it prints. Correcting mistakes: Word users can correct formatting errors by using the Undo command (Edit menu), or they can troubleshoot problems by displaying a description of the formatting applied to selected text. Editing and Formatting Text: Word 2000 follows a paragraph-based formatting model, which associates formatting properties with objects. In Word, paragraph formats apply to the entire paragraph.
A formatting guide/template is applied directly to the text. If text is cut and pasted in a new location, its attributes move with it. Character formatting, such as bold, italic, and underline, is attached to the text characters to which it is applied. Paragraph formatting, such as indentation and tab stop locations, is stored in a nonprinting paragraph mark at the end of each paragraph. Whereas WordPerfect uses templates also, the templates can be amended or altered without conflict, which is where Reveal Codes provide very finite control over what is or is not formatted.
Working With Paragraphs in Word
When a user presses ENTER, Word automatically inserts a paragraph mark and applies the current formatting to the next paragraph. If a user deletes a paragraph mark, the text merges with the next paragraph in the document and takes on its paragraph formatting.
(Tip: To display paragraph marks, tab stops, and other nonprinting characters, click the Show/Hide button on the standard toolbar).
Displaying Formatting Information in Word
Word users can take note of basic formatting information by observing the indicators on the Formatting toolbar. Additional formatting information is available by opening the Font and Paragraph dialog boxes.
The Find feature has an option for choosing the special characters you want to locate. Open the Edit menu, choose Find, click the More button, then click the Special button. Locate the code, special character, or formatting option you want to find and choose it from the list. You can delete the codes as you find them, if necessary.
One last trick is to open a Style View sidebar. View the document using a Normal view (View/Normal) and then go to Tools/Options/View, and change the style area width to 2.5" or so. The style descriptor that is applied to each paragraph is displayed in the left margin of the screen. Close the Style sidebar by reducing the width to zero.
