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What are Newsgroups ?

Newsgroups are just places where people discuss various topics.

Newsgroups are extremely useful and can be used to answer your questions.

There are a large number of different newsgroups available including some dedicated ones created by Microsoft.

Before you submit any postings to a newsgroup you should do a search to make sure that your question has not already been answered.

It is possible to search newsgroups using Google. Make sure you select "Groups" at the top before entering your keywords.

There are several ways you can access newsgroups.

Using the Microsoft Website

Logon to the following website: http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx

Using Outlook Express

Using Microsoft Outlook Express is one option and this should come as standard with Internet Explorer.

Select (Tools > Accounts) to display the "Internet Accounts" dialog box.

Select the All tab and select (Add > News).

Enter your Name, E-mail address and then enter the News (NNTP) server msnews.microsoft.com.

This should add the entry to your Local Folders.

Select the entry and you will be prompted to retrieve a list of the available newsgroups.

Select the newsgroup you want to see and select Subscribe.

Word specific Newsgroups

The following are dedicated newsgroups that have been created by Microsoft and they are pretty self explanatory.

microsoft.public.word.application.errors - suitable if Word is crashing or you are getting error messages.

microsoft.public.word.conversions - anything related to converting files to and from Microsoft Word.

microsoft.public.word.customization.menustoolbars - anything related to customising Word (not VBA).

microsoft.public.word.docmanagement - suitable for questions on document management and networking (advanced).

microsoft.public.word.drawing.graphics - anything related to drawing tools, pictures, graphics etc.

microsoft.public.word.formatting.longdocs - anything related to long documents, styles, templates, master documents, etc.

microsoft.public.word.international.features - anything related to multi-lingual or left-to-right issues.

microsoft.public.word.mail - suitable for any questions related to using Microsoft Word as your email editor.

microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields - anything related to performing a mail merge.

microsoft.public.word.newusers - suitable if you are fairly new to Word.

microsoft.public.word.numbering - suitable for any questions related to bullets and numbering.

microsoft.public.word.oleinterop - anything related to cross platform or cross product issues (advanced).

microsoft.public.word.pagelayout - anything related to page layout and multiple columns.

microsoft.public.word.printingfonts - suitable for any questions relating to printing and using different fonts.

microsoft.public.word.programming - suitable for any VBA specific questions.

microsoft.public.word.setup.networking - anything related to networking and system administration (advanced).

microsoft.public.word.spelling.grammar - suitable for questions related to the spelling and grammar tools.

microsoft.public.word.tables - anything related to tables, but not tables of contents or indexes.

microsoft.public.word.vba.addins - anything related to COM add-ins and global templates (advanced).

microsoft.public.word.vba.beginners - suitable if you want to learn more about macros.

microsoft.public.word.vba.customization - anything related to customising with VBA.

microsoft.public.word.vba.general - suitable for any questions for the intermediate to advanced user.

microsoft.public.word.vba.userforms - anything related to forms and user forms (advanced).

microsoft.public.word.web.authoring - suitable for questions related to created web pages or web sites using Word.

microsoft.public.word.word97vba - anything related to Word 97 VBA (advanced).

microsoft.public.mac.office.word - suitable if you are running Word on a Macintosh.

Word specific Newsgroups (no longer used)

microsoft.public.word.internet.assistant - this is obsolete and should not be used.

microsoft.public.word.macword2001 - this is obsolete and should not be used.

microsoft.public.word.macword5-6 - this is obsolete and should not be used.

microsoft.public.word.macword98 - this is obsolete and should not be used.

microsoft.public.word.word6-7 - this is obsolete and should not be used.

Things to Remember

Always make the subject in your message meaningful and to the point.

Avoid posting a message in multiple newsgroups unless it specifically applies to more than one.

Restrict each message to one specific question, for multiple questions submit separate messages.

Never include file attachments and always specify the version of Word you are using.