Write a Draft of Your Report

In Word, click the New button to start your report. If your report contains several parts, you may want to start with part titles and then list the major and secondary headings in each part. At this point, don’t worry about formatting titles or any of the text.

The easiest way to add text, graphics, tables, or other information is to copy and paste it. If the information is likely to change, you can link the information to your report, even if the information is from another application. Any time the original information changes, your report will be updated automatically.

Want a ready-made report that you just fill in?   Use one of the Word report templates. Click New (File menu). On the Reports tab, double-click a report template. Want to turn data in a table into a chart?   See Add a Chart to a Document or Presentation. For more information on how to best present your data, see Customize the Look of a Chart. Want a faster way to add information from other applications?   In applications for Windows, Microsoft Excel for example, you can move or copy data to your Word report by using the right mouse button to drag the selection to where you want to add it. When you release the mouse button, a menu shows the available options for moving and copying.

Want a Quick Start on Creating Your Report?

The quickest way to create, organize, and automatically apply formatting to headings is to use outlining. Just click Outline (View menu) and type the headings in your report. Word applies a heading style to each heading that you type.

In outline view, you can see the structure of your document at whatever level of detail you choose. You can change heading levels with a click of the mouse, and you can move a whole section—heading, subheadings, and associated text—just by dragging the heading.

Outlining has other advantages: You can quickly create a table of contents, and, if you have Microsoft PowerPoint, you can create a slide presentation just by opening your report in PowerPoint. For more information, see Finish by Adding a Table of Contents, and Transfer Information Between PowerPoint and Other Applications.

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Want to know more?   Look up Getting Results - Business Report in Help.