How to display margins in Word 2013

Yes, setting the compatibility option to Word 2010 is file-specific. Of course, you can create a template with the compatibility option set, and then create new documents based on the template.

I've posted a Word 2013 template with this attribute set in the Templates and Documents section of my Downloads page. It has a read-me document that links back to this thread. It's title is "Text Boundaries Template for Word 2013/365."

I also found this (among other things) to be very frustrating.  This is my workaround if you don't need it to be in native Word 2013 format.

Turn on your boundaries.  

Sigh.  {optional)

Curse under your breath.  {optional)

Go to the File menu (once you find it)

Choose "Save As..."

Navigate the series of (unnecessary) choices to get to the Save As dialog box that should be one keystroke.

Choose to save as type: Word 97-2003 (*.doc)

Boundaries go back where they should be. (yea!)

If you prefer to have a .docx extension, at that point, you can

Save As... (again)

Save as type: Word document (*.docx)

Then check the box to "Maintain compatibility with previous versions of Word" rather than upgrade it to the native 2013 docx format.

Boundaries stay in the desired format.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

I love you who ever you are, you have saved my brain from exploding... I have my movable margin I can edit my documents again...maybe I won't absolutely hate office 2013 now.......but maybe I will continue to find things that it just doesn't do as well as 2003

Anyway thank you so very much for telling us how to flick the ruler on, my how to book doesn't

I just upgraded from Word 2007 to Word 2013.  In the 2007 version, I could display the margins but I haven't been able to find how to do that in Word 2013.  Does anyone know?  Clicking on "show text boundaries" seems to put a lot of lines in the document only.

Show text boundaries is there, however, you must got to File, Save, and Save All Files in This Format, and select 97-2003 format.

 

The bad news - the cursor does not show at the left margin.

 

The good news - text boundaries are like they have been for years!  The other good news, Word Art is like is was prior to Office 2007!

 

Sure would be nice if MS got this right!  This is a mess without a cursor at the left margin!

 

Good luck.

Saving in the .doc format has the side effect of disabling new features like content controls and makes for larger files.

The change to WordArt began with Office 2010 and there are other work-arounds for that. Legacy WordArt Add-In for 2010-2013

Could it be you are looking for File menu > Options command > Advanced option > Show Document Content section. Turn ON "Show Text Boundaries".

No, that is already turned on.  The problem is that it shows lines between paragraphs, as well.