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Macros, tips, and templates for Corel® WordPerfect® for Windows®
© Copyright 1996-2008 by Barry MacDonnell. All Rights Reserved.

There are several ways to "stamp" labels or other useful information on each page of a document. Some are individual methods, and some are combinations of more than one method.

Headers and Footers
Text Boxes and Graphic Images
Watermarks
Macros
QuickWords
Styles

Headers and Footers

This is the most basic and traditional method, often used for the current date, page and/or chapter number, company name, or filename. You can place text or graphics in one of the two Header types (A or B) or two Footer types (A or B). Since these are "repeating elements," they will show up on the current and following pages (unless replaced by another header or footer of the same type). They can be discontinued (stopped) at any point in the document with Insert, Header/Footer ... Discontinue. They can be deleted by dragging (or deleting) the [Header] or [Footer] code from the Reveal Codes window. Advanced users might try using a macro to insert the stamp into the header or footer in the desired format (see Footnote 1 below). Or, use a QuickWord. Advantages: Information is easily inserted in a header or footer. This is a common technique, often used and easily learned. Disadvantages: Information may become superimposed on the header or footer of the other type (A or B), if used, unless additional blank lines or spaces are added. Headers (and Footers) use the same screen "real estate," so you may need to offset one or the other (A or B) if using two headers or two footers on the same page(s). Also, these elements exist only at the top and bottom of each page (not to mention they take up space you might want for body text). To use the area outside the margins, or any other spot on the page, use a text (or graphics) box and place it where needed. You can put the box on the page or insert it in a watermark, where it will show up on all pages from that point forward in the document. Page Top

Text Boxes and Graphic Images

Here are several ways you can stamp your document using a text box or a graphic image (e.g., a "faded" or transparent image of the word "DRAFT" splashed across the page): Create a text box or insert an existing graphic image inside a watermark (see the next section) where it will not only show up on the current and subsequent pages, but you can control the "intensity" of the stamp very easily with a button on the watermark property bar. TIPS: Use TextArt or an Equation box to create a rotated text stamp. See Rotating text to intermediate angles. To use TextArt to create a circular stamp of words on the page, see Footnote 2 below. (The same TextArt technique can, of course, create diagonal and other types of stamps.) Or ... Create a new, "behind-text" graphic image with Corel Presentations (or other graphics program) that can be used to stamp the current page; see the "Create a page stamp with Corel Presentations" TIP below. Then ... you can use the QuickWords or Styles method (below) to save your stamp and automate using it on future documents. TIP: A small macro can be recorded to insert an existing image on disk [record it using Insert, Graphics, From File]. The macro can then be played with a keystroke or from a toolbar or menu. See here for more on easy ways to play a macro. Advantages: Easy to create or insert from the Insert menu or by using a QuickWord, style, or macro. Can be placed almost anywhere on a page except in the non-printable areas dictated by your current printer. Disadvantages: If placed on a normal document page (not in a watermark), text boxes and graphic images can sometimes shift positon even if "anchored" to the current page; if this happens, position ("anchor") them on a paragraph or character (if possible) and they are more likely to maintain their relative position during editing. Or, put them in a watermark. TIP: Create a page stamp with Corel Presentations [To easily create rotated text stamps, also see Rotating text to intermediate angles (e.g., 33 degrees).] For those who have Corel Presentations installed (part of the WordPerfect Office Suite - Standard or Professional), you can create a custom graphic image stamp that can be saved to disk or saved as a QuickWord for instant access. Here's how: [Note that these instructions apply to Presentations 12, but should be reasonably similar for other versions. Consult the online Help feature (<F1> key) in your version of Presentations.] Open Presentations, then select "Presentations Drawing" from the Create New drop list, and click on Create. A blank screen should appear under the menu and toolbars. From the Presentations top menu, click on Insert, Text Line. The context-sensitive property bar should show a drop list of font names and font sizes. Select the ones you wish to use. For example, you can use Times New Roman 96-point. (The image size will be changed later when in WordPerfect, so just choose a workable size here.) Move the cursor down into the blank screen area. Notice that the cursor is now crosshair-shaped. Simply click anywhere in the white screen area to create a vertical insertion cursor, and type the word you wish to use for your page stamp, such as the word "DRAFT." (Note: Right-clicking on the word brings up a context menu to allow you to select other formatting choices.) Click anywhere outside of the word; notice that four drag handles (small black squares) will appear around the word to let you resize the image. Now, from the main menu, select Edit, Arrange, Rotate. (Some earlier versions have this under the Graphics button that appears when the image is selected.) The drag handles should change into eight double-headed arrows. Pass your mouse cursor over one of the double-headed arrows at one of the four corners of the image until it, too, turns into a double-headed arrow. Notice that you can now left-click and drag (i.e., rotate) the entire word in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Do so until the word is in the desired orientation. (Clicking and dragging the arrows between the four corners allows creating words with a different slant. Notice also the small bull's-eye symbol in the center of the image; this represents the axis about which the image can be rotated; you can drag this symbol to another location if desired.) Now click the selection tool at the top of the left (vertical) toolbar (or if the toolbar isn't visible, click Edit, Select, All) to return the drag handles to small black squares. On the left toolbar (or Format menu), you can select a Foreground Fill Color for the letters of the word, such as a light color. Try some of the other effects, such as a different fill pattern. Press <Ctrl+Z> to undo any changes. Click on the image to select it (or click Edit, Select, All). Press <Ctrl+C> (or click Edit, Copy) to copy it to the Windows clipboard. At this point you can save it to disk, but this is not necessary if you follow the rest of these instructions. However, if you save it to disk you can record a macro in WordPerfect to insert it when needed, instead of using a QuickWord. Return to WordPerfect, and paste the copied image into a blank doccument (<Ctrl+V>). Click on the image to select it, and use a drag handle to resize it. Drag the image into position when the cursor turns to four-headed arrow. With the box selected, right-click on it and select Wrap, Behind Text, OK. Click inside Reveal Codes and place the cursor to the left side of the [Box] code. Press the <Shift+RightArrow> key to select just the [Box] code. Click Tools, QuickWords, and type an abbreviation for the new image stamp (e.g., \DRAFT). Make sure "Expand QuickWords when you type them" is checked (enabled), and under the Options button, you have selected "Expand as text with Formatting." From now on, just type the QuickWord abbreviation -- plus a space, tab, or hard return -- and it will place the stamp on the current page. (Backspace to delete the space or tab or return.) Alternatively, if you have saved the image to disk you can record a macro with Tools, Macro, Record to insert it with Insert, Graphics, From File. You can then assign the saved macro to keystrokes or to a toolbar button or menu. See here for easy ways to play a macro. Page Top

Watermarks

WordPerfect's watermark feature (Insert, Watermark) is similar to using Headers and Footers (watermarks are also "repeating elements" and are superceded or discontinued in a similar way). Compared to Headers/Footers, a stamp in a watermark has the additional advantage of being able to be placed on other parts of the page, including stamps used as full-page background images or large text boxes with rotated contents outside normal margins. Generally, you would create a watermark (A or B) on the desired document page; insert one or more text boxes or graphics images in it (or merely type your text in large font, perhaps centered horizontally and vertically); position the box(es) or image(s) as desired; and close the Watermark window (File, Close) to return to your document. Note that boxes or images can be placed almost anywhere on a Watermark page except in the non-printable areas dictated by your current printer. Removal of the watermark is as easy as deleting the [Watermark] code in Reveal Codes while in the main document window. See the following sections for some easy ways to create a DRAFT or COPY watermark. Also see the QuickWords section for an easy method of inserting the watermark stamp whenever needed. Advantages: Noted above. You can also control the text or image's shading in a watermark. (Shading, or intensity, is controlled with a button on the property bar that appears when creating or editing a watermark.). Disadvantages: No major disadvantages. Page Top

Macros

Macros offer a fast and automated method of inserting (or even typing) text stamps such as "DRAFT" or the filename of the current document. They can also insert graphic images. The macro usually places the stamp in a header, footer, or watermark. Examples: John Land created a macro (#Watermk.wcm) to produce any of several standard stamps in a watermark. The stamps (DRAFT, COPY, CONFIDENTIAL, etc.) can be placed in either watermark (A or B) and in nine locations on the page. Users can choose the font and size as well as the rotation angle. The author's EdgeText macro can place a short block of text (e.g., "DRAFT"), the date, and/or the filename at one of six user-selctable places around the edge of the page, outside the page margins. The macro uses a text box, and the user can choose to insert it in a watermark so it will print on all pages, or attach it to the current page. WordPerfect ships with a macro, FileStmp.wcm, that inserts the complete filename in the document. (Or, to insert the filename plus additional information, see the author's Filstamp). The author's PrntCopy macro prints a copy of your document marked with "Copy" or other single- or multi-line identifier stamp in any of nine locations. (Click here for a screen shot.) Removal of the stamp is the generally same as for headers, footers, or watermarks: delete the relevant code in Reveal Codes. (If text was actually typed by the macro, the text may need to be deleted.) Advantages: Can be assigned to a keystroke combination or to a toolbar button for quick and easy play. If created for company use, and if the macro inserts custom text as part of a macro code routine, they can be standardized and less prone to tampering. Using a macro such as EdgeText gives flexibility to the user in what is inserted in the stamp. Disadvantages: Creating a macro to insert a text box or insert a file image may require knowledge of programming with PerfectScript, since some commands dealing with such items are not recordable. (See Footnote 1 at the bottom of this page for some macro code to insert an image stored on disk.) Page Top

QuickWords

WordPerfect's QuickWords feature (under Tools, QuickWords) allows you to save a large block of material -- text, graphics, and even formatting codes -- and have it inserted with a few keystrokes. This is a good way to insert "boilerplate" text or special formatting such as a special page setup or a signature block. You can use a QuickWord (QW) to insert a previously designed watermark in the document. For example, to stamp documents as "DRAFT" you can create a watermark, then save the watermark in a QuickWord. First create the watermark. Open a new, blank document. Click Insert, Watermark...Create. (Choose the watermark least likely to be used for anything else -- probably Watermark B.) Then either - click Insert, Graphics..., to insert a graphic image that says "DRAFT" (Mike Koenecke has one here) into the watermark; or use TextArt (Insert, Graphics, textArt) to create an unusual text stamp in watermark (to use TextArt to create a circular stamp of words on the page, see Footnote 2 below); or create a rotated text box inside the watermark that reads "DRAFT" and place it in the margin. Note 1: The author's EdgeText macro mentioned above is played directly from the main document window -- not the watermark window -- to create such a watermark. It creates a rotated text box in the margin of a watermark in which you can use the word "DRAFT." Similarly, John Land's #Watermk.wcm macro is played from the main document and can create any of several standard text stamps (including DRAFT). Once the watermark is created, proceed with selecting the watermark code as explained below. Note 2: You can play EdgeText twice, once using Watermark A and once using Watermark B, to get additional information in the margins such as filename, date, etc. Once the watermark is created - [Optional:] You can discontinue (i.e., stop) the watermark on following pages by clicking Format, Page, Delay Codes, 1, OK. The Define Delayed Codes window opens; click the Watermark button on the property bar, and choose the watermark (A or B), then click Discontinue. Click Close to return to the main document, where (in Reveal Codes) you should now see two codes: [Watermark][Delay]. Select just the watermark code (or, if used, select the [Delay] code, too) in the Reveal Codes window. Selection may be easier by placing the insertion cursor in front of the [Watermark] code, then holding down the Shift key while you press the Right Arrow key once; click Tools, QuickWords, and give the new QW a name (e.g., \draft or \copy -- generally you should precede a QW name with a backslash or other little-used key to help prevent mistakes); click the Options button and select "Expand as text with Formatting." If you want the QW to expand as you type it (the typical case), make sure "Expand QuickWords ... " box is checked at the bottom of the QW dialog box. When you need the DRAFT watermark, just type the QW (plus a space, tab, or press <Enter>) on the page where you want it to begin. (If you have not checked the "Expand QuickWords..." box, the QW won't expand. However, you can expand all QWs at once by playing the EXPNDALL.WCM shipping macro.) When you want to remove the watermark, just use Reveal Codes and drag the [Watermark] code from the Reveal Codes window. Advantages: Easy to use and modify (you can type the QW in a blank document, and when it expands, remove the trailing space and make the modifications; then select the modified material (again, using Reveal Codes for precision), and save the modifications back into the QW list, using the same QW name). Disadvantages: Requires you to remember the QW name, which means you may have to consult a list if you use lots of them. But for common tasks they can work quite well. Also, the "Expand QuickWords ... " box at the bottom of the QW dialog box can sometimes become unchecked (e.g., if you have a macro open for editing), rendering QuickWords temporarily inoperative. Finally, unofficial reports indicate that large numbers of QuickWords can be a load on the resources in your system, and can slow WP's operation. TIP: A novel use of QuickWords: You can use QuickWords in some versions of WordPefect to customize the return address in envelopes with different fonts or graphics to match your letterhead. Click here for more information. TIP: For more on using QuickWords to insert items in your document, see here. Page Top

Styles

Another method, which may be easier to use than QuickWords (though a little more difficult to create), is to create a style that will be available with a mouseclick to set up the DRAFT, COPY, or other stamp in the current document. Example: Here's how to set up a style that automatically - (optionally) sets your document to print to your printer's draft paper tray, and inserts a watermark to stamp "DRAFT" on all pages. When you click on the style's name in the "Select Style" drop list on the text property bar, it will insert two codes that can easily be deleted when you want to turn the document back into a final edition. (Obviously, the first step, setting a page definition for type of paper and/or printer tray, is optional. It is used here to illustrate that you can set up styles to do multiple things -- which, of course, you can also do with QuickWords. However, using a style name from the text property bar's drop list is often easier than trying to remember a QuickWord name. Moreover, there will be no extra space character left in the document, which happens when you type a QuickWord-plus-space to expand the QuickWord.) First, open a new document. Set up the draft page definition with Format, Page, Page Setup and choose your pre-defined Page Definition -- one that was set up to print to the proper draft paper tray. This will insert a [Page Sz/Typ] code at the top of the current document. As mentioned, this is an optional step. Next, create a DRAFT watermark. (See above, under Watermarks.) When finished, close the watermark editing screen with File, Close. You should be back in the main document window. At the main document window, open Reveal Codes (View, Reveal Codes). In Reveal Codes, select the two codes [Page Sz/Typ][Watermark] and then copy (Ctrl+C) them to the Windows clipboard. Selection may be easier by placing the insertion cursor in front of the [Page Sz/Typ] code, then holding down the Shift key while you press the Right Arrow key twice. Now, create the style. Click Format, Styles. This brings up the Styles window. Optional (but recommended, if permitted in your company): Click the Options button, then choose Settings. Click the radio button, "Default template," then OK to return to the Styles window. The next style you create will be saved to the default template. (You will reset this radio button, below, after you finish creating the new style.) While in the Styles window, click Create to bring up the Styles Editor. Give your new style a name (e.g., Draft) and description, and for the Type, choose Document (open). While still in the Styles Editor, use the Editor's menu and click Edit, Paste. The two codes you copied to the clipboard should show up in the Contents field. (You could even add other formatting codes while in the Styles Editor.) Click OK. You will be taken back to the Style window. Optional (but recommended if you chose to use the option above): In the Styles window, click the Options button, then choose Settings. Click the radio button, "Current document" to reset the location setting back to the default, then click OK to return to the Styles window. Note that the assumption made here is that you do not want future styles saved to the default template unless you explicitly save them there. Click Close. You should be back in the main document editing window. Whenever you need the style, click in the "Select Style" drop list on the property bar and select "Draft." (Alternatively, use Format, Styles to select and then Insert the style.) Removing the style when you no longer need it - To remove the style from the current document, drag the [Open Style: Draft] code from the Reveal Codes window. To remove the style from the default template (if you saved it there in the optional step above), click File, New from Project (or just New in WP8 or earlier), and in the top drop list, choose (i.e., select) "Custom WP Templates." The "Create a blank document" choice is the default template on which all new blank documents are based. Click the Options button, Edit WP Template. The filename at the top should read "wpNxx.wpt" (where "N" is your version of WP, and "xx" is your language version, such as US English). Then click Format, Styles, choose "Draft" then click Options, then Delete. When you are back in the template's main document screen, click File, Save, then File, Close. Advantages: Styles are easier to use than a QuickWord, since you don't need to remember the QuickWord: the style name is available with a mouseclick. Disadvantages: A little harder to create and modify than a QuickWord, and such "document stamping" styles are broadly useful only if they are stored in the default template -- which may not be desirable or permitted in your company. Page Top

Inserting a graphic with a macro is something you may find difficult to do. Here is a macro code snippet that should do the job. Note that vFName in the third command represents the filename containing the graphic image on disk:

BoxCreate (BoxType: "Image")
BoxContentType (Content: Image!)
BoxImageRetrieve (Action: MakeInternal!; vFName)
BoxWidth (Width: AutoWidth!)
BoxUpdateDisplay ()
BoxEnd (Save!; Hide!)

(Thanks to Charles Rossiter for posting this snippet on the Corel Newsgroups.)

Footnote 2:

Here's how to create a circular stamp of words on the page with TextArt. The stamp can then be inserted as a Watermark, using a QuickWord. (See an example of a circular "Draft" stamp here.)

The following was done in WordPerfect X3, but it should be the same procedure in earlier versions.

• Open a new, blank document as a workspace to create a new TextArt image.
• Click Insert, Graphics/Pictures (or just Graphics in earlier versions), TextArt. The TextArt dialog opens; drag it out of the way so that you can see the image box.
• Under the General tab, choose the image shape that has a small letter "a" over a rotating arrow symbol. This represents circular text.
• Choose a Font (e.g., Arial Narrow), and Font style. (Leave Justification set to Centered.)
• In the "Type here:" field, type the word or words (e.g., DRAFT, Not For Circulation, etc.), press the <Spacebar>, then (optionally) click the Insert Symbol button. Choose a "dot" or other symbol as a separator, click Insert, then press <Spacebar> again. Repeat entering text/symbols until the circle is complete. (You may need an extra space character at the end of the text string.) Click Close to exit from the Symbols dialog.
• Choose the 2D Options tab. Click Pattern and select None (or choose a preferred pattern; you probably will want to use a Fill unless you want to use just an Outline -- see below). Click OK.
• Click the Shadow button a choose a shadow, etc. (The center square represents No Shadow.)
• Click the Outline button and choose an outline for each letter. (You may prefer None, since outlines tend to obscure a document's body text.)
• Click the Text Color button, and click on a color. To use the stamp in a Watermark (as suggested here), you probably will want to choose a light shade (e.g., light gray).
• Click Close on the TextArt dialog to return to your document.
• Right-click on the image and choose Size from the context menu that appears. Set the Width and Height to the same value (e.g., 7" x 7"). Click OK.
• Right-click the image again and choose Position. Set the Horizontal and Vertical position to zero inches and "Center on Margins." Click OK.
• If the box is still selected (the 8 drag handles are displayed), press <Ctrl+C> to copy the image to the Windows clipboard. If it is not selected, right-click on it and choose Select Box, then press <Ctrl+C>. Click outside the box to deselect it.
• Open a new, blank document and click Insert, Watermark, (choose A or B), then Create. When in the Watermark window, press <Ctrl+V> to paste the image. (You can resize it if desired by right-clicking the image and choosing Size.) Click outside the image to deselect it.
• Close the Watermark window with the Close button on the Watermark property bar (or use File, Close).
• You should now be back in the document. Type or paste some text into the document, then print the page to see the results. You can always edit the image by editing the Watermark, right-clicking the image, clicking Content, then Edit. The TextArt dialog should appear and let you change the text, color, etc.
• Finally, you can make a QuickWord from the Watermark so that you can insert the new text stamp quickly with a few keystrokes.
  • [Optional:] You can have the QuickWord discontinue (i.e., stop) the watermark on following pages. On the page with the Watermark code, click Format, Page, Delay Codes, 1, OK. The Define Delayed Codes window opens; click the Watermark button on the property bar, and choose the watermark (A or B) you have set up for your stamp, then click Discontinue. Click Close to return to the main document, where (in Reveal Codes) you should now see two adjacent codes: [Watermark][Delay].
  • Select just the watermark code (or, if used, select the [Delay] code, too) in the Reveal Codes window. Selection may be easier by placing the insertion cursor in front of the [Watermark] code, then holding down the Shift key while you press the Right Arrow key.
  • Click Tools, QuickWords, and give the new QW a name (e.g., \draft or \copy -- generally you should precede a QW name with a backslash or other little-used key to help prevent mistakes).
  • Click the Options button and select "Expand as text with Formatting." If you want the QW to expand as you type it (the typical case), make sure "Expand QuickWords ... " box is checked at the bottom of the QW dialog box.

  • TIP: You can also record a macro to play the new QuickWord:
    • Click on Tools, Macro, Record;
    • give the macro a name;
    • position the cursor in the document;
    • select the QuickWord with Tools, QuickWords;
    • click Insert as Text;
    • stop the macro recording with the Stop button on the macro toolbar.
    • The macro can then be assigned to a menu, toolbar button, or shortcut key, as explained here.