Old Style Word Art in Word 2010?

Some time ago, I don't remember when, I prepared a web tips page on this topic.  I must have forgot to post the link:   http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/word\_tip\_pages/classic\_wordart\_in\_word2010\_2013\_documents.html

Greg, your tip to add the Compatibility Mode Quick Tool icon is the key to making this totally simple.  However, the challenge most seem to have is how to get the campatibility mode document without having an old copy of Word 2003 installed.  It's simple.  First, here is a screen capture of your tip to add the WordArt icon to the Quick Toolbar:

Now, to get access to the aold style word art tool, open a new document in compatibility mode by going to File/New/My templates and then selecting "NormalOld.dot".  You can then copy any stuff you have in a 2010 or later document into this one as well as create and edit WordArt per the old 2003 capabilities, including gradients, shadows, colors, etc. etc.  See the screen shot below:

Below is the look of the good old 2003 word art formating dialog box  :):):)

After editing the NormalOld template file and saving it as a regular, non-compatibility mode .docx file, the word art remained just fine.  Although the OldWordArt quick tool icon grayed out in the .docx mode, I could still edit the word art per the old 2003 method.

Hope this helps.

Thank you! I would have never thought of that!

Word 2010's WordArt is a bit more powerful than you suspect, I believe. Insert a WordArt object, then, in Drawing Tools - Format, look at Text Effects - Transform. Does that give you what you want?

If not, you can still get the old style. Save the file in Word 2003 format, and now when you choose Insert - WordArt, you'll see the legacy choices.

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Herb Tyson Microsoft Word MVP Herb Tyson Word Bible Blog

Herb ... my darling!!! Your first suggestion didn't work but your second worked like gang busters!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! You have NO idea how frustrated I've been since loading 2010. I'm a major user of WordArt AND MS Word and have wasted sooo much time with this problem. You are OFFICIALLY my "GO-TO-GUY, (if that's possible) with Word!

Chris

Yes, you can, even without saving to the Word 2003 format. You can download a free, macro-free Add-In that does this at Legacy WordArt Add-In for 2010-2013.


It is not the same in that the is not a 4x4 gallery, but it does have all of the classic patterns ready to insert. In Docx formatted documents, you then have to right-click and edit the text. The above shows the new WordArt dropdown in the same document as the custom gallery.