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Word for Windows commands, and their descriptions, default shortcuts and menu assignments 

Article contributed by Dave Rado

Word has a built-in command ListCommands, which produces a table of all the Word commands with their current key and menu assignments. However, it does not list the commands using their actual names; nor does it include descriptions of what the commands actually do.

Various sites on the web list the default shortcuts, but again, most don't list the commands using their correct names; most don't list those commands which are not assigned to a shortcut by default – but which you might well want to assign to one, or to assign to a menu; or which you might want to intercept using a macro; and some don't list full descriptions of what the commands do.

WordCommands.zip (50k) extracts to an Excel file, WordCommands.xls, which contains a list of all interceptable Word commands (Word 97 and above), using their correct English names; and with various filters applied to the spreadsheet so that you can easily switch between viewing all commands; or only those assigned to a shortcut by default; or only those assigned to either a shortcut or a menu by default (select View + Custom Views, then select a view from the list). If you don't have access to Excel, WordCmndsPDF.zip (136k) contains 3 PDF files, one for each of the Custom Views.

Each command is listed with a description of what it does; in many cases a much fuller description than that which Word itself displays when you scroll through the commands (by selecting Tools + Macros + Macros, and selecting “Word commands” under “Macros in”).

The hyperlinks at the top right of the sheet are to help you with navigation.

If you just want to know about the most useful shortcuts, and why they are so useful, see Some of the most useful Word shortcuts

If you want to assign some of the unassigned commands to a menu or shortcut, see:
How to assign a Word command or macro to a hot-key
How to assign a Word command or macro to a toolbar or menu

If you want to create a macro to intercept one of the commands, see:
Intercepting events like Save and Print

If you want to find out which command Word executes when selecting a command in a toolbar or in the Ribbon so you can assign it to a hot-key, see How to find out which command Word executes.