Live Layout In Word 2013

Live Layout Explained In Word 2013

Word 2013 offers a new feature called Live Layout, which helps us to position objects like pictures and charts in our document. After we have inserted a picture, for example we can drag the picture around our document to reposition it, and Word will give us a real time preview of what the finished result will look like.

We can demonstrate Live Layout with an example. Create a new blank document and quickly add some random text by typing =rand(5,5) and pressing Enter. Place the cursor where you want to insert a picture, go to the Insert tab and click Picture in the Illustrations group. Navigate to where your image is on your hard drive, select it and click insert. Nothing unusual so far.

However, you’ll see the new feature when you start manipulating the image. In our example, we picked a rather large image that needed resizing. As we resized it and made it smaller, we could see straight away the text adjusting to fit around the smaller image – while we were resizing. This is Live Layout in action. In Word 2010 we would have to eyeball it as we were resizing, and only see the finished result when we released the mouse. In Word 2013 we get instant feedback from the changes we make.

Live Layout Doesn’t Work In Word 2013

Oh yes it does! You have to first specify the layout options for the object,you are manipulating. If, for example, you insert an image, you will see the layout options button appear next to the image.

You must click on this button to tell Word how to wrap text around the image before Live Layout will work. Once you have done this, you will see the text reflowing smoothly around your image as you drag it around your document.