WordPad is a text-editing program you can use to create and edit documents. Unlike Notepad, WordPad documents can include rich formatting and graphics, and you can link to or embed objects, such as pictures or other documents.
Open WordPad by clicking the Start button . In the search box, type WordPad, and then, in the list of results, click WordPad.
Use the following commands to create, open, or save documents:
Create a new document
Open a document
Save a document
Save a document with a new name or format
WordPad can be used to open and save text documents (.txt), rich text files (.rtf), Word documents (.docx), and OpenDocument Text (.odt) documents. Documents in other formats are opened as plain text documents and might not appear as expected.
There's a quick way to put the commands you use most often in WordPad within easy reach—put them on the Quick Access Toolbar above the ribbon.
To add a WordPad command to the Quick Access Toolbar, right-click a button or command, and then click Add to Quick Access Toolbar.
Formatting refers to how the text in your document looks as well as how it's arranged. You can use the ribbon, located just underneath the title bar to easily change the formatting in your document. For example, you can choose from many different fonts and font sizes, and you can make your text almost any color you want. You can also easily change how your document is aligned.
Use the following commands to change the formatting of your document:
Change how text looks in your document
Select the text that you want to change, and then use the buttons on the Home tab in the Font group. For more information about what each button does, hover over the button for a description.
Change how text is aligned in your document
Select the text that you want to change, and then use the buttons on the Home tab in the Paragraph group. For more information about what each button does, hover over the button for a description.
Use the following commands to insert the current date or a picture:
Insert the current date
On the Home tab, in the Insert group, click Date and time.
Click the format you want, and then click OK.
Insert a picture
On the Home tab, in the Insert group, click Picture.
Locate the picture that you want to insert, and then click Open.
Insert a drawing
On the Home tab, in the Insert group, click Paint drawing.
Create the drawing that you want to insert and then close Paint.
Use the following commands to view documents:
Increase or decrease the zoom level
On the View tab, in the Zoom group, click Zoom in or Zoom out.
View the document at its actual size
On the View tab, in the Zoom group, click 100%.
Display the ruler
On the View tab, in the Show or hide group, select the Ruler check box.
Display the status bar
On the View tab, in the Show or hide group, select the Status bar check box.
Change the word wrap settings
On the View tab, in the Settings group, click Word wrap, and then click the setting that you want.
Change the unit of measurement on the ruler
On the View tab, in the Settings group, click Measurement units, and then click the units that you want.
