Where is the section break on my Office 365 Online version?

It is not there. I am trying to add a footer to only one page and everything I look up says go to Layout>Breaks and then has further instructions. But I cannot follow the instructions, because the "Breaks" does not exist on my version. Only Page Breaks. My husband's version does have it. I have googled endlessly and have not found anyone else asking this.

The version of 365 I am using is the online version provided by my school.

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It is not there. I am trying to add a footer to only one page and everything I look up says go to Layout>Breaks and then has further instructions. But I cannot follow the instructions, because the "Breaks" does not exist on my version. Only Page Breaks. My husband's version does have it. I have googled endlessly and have not found anyone else asking this.

The version of 365 I am using is the online version provided by my school.

You are correct. It is not there.

The online program is a different program.

Do your editing in the desktop application.

Talk to your school's IT people. If you do not have direct access to this on your computer, borrow your husband's or use a library computer with the desktop Word program.

See Compare Word features on different platforms. (this is an archival copy) current page is Word Features Comparison: Web vs Desktop.

  • There are multiple programs, all named Word, and all created and published by Microsoft. This can be confusing when trying to get help.

  • They all can edit the same document files that have the same file structure. Some of the programs have no control over some of the document structures.

  • They may all be called Microsoft 365 or Word 365 if using the subscription plan. If it is called Office 2021 (2019, 2016, etc.) it is the perpetual license version which is only the desktop programs. The perpetual license versions with a year number only work in a Windows or Mac OS environment.

  • But, they are different programs with different features and controls. Note that most users never come close to using all of the features offered in the desktop versions of Word.

 

As of April 2024, the most powerful Word program, with the most features, remains the Windows desktop application from Microsoft 365. I do not expect that to change. The perpetual license version Word 2021 is very close as far as features but does not receive new features as added. The perpetual license versions of Office/Word is only the desktop applications and does not include the online or mobile versions.

 

The Macintosh desktop application is a close second in the number of features. The things available in the Windows version not yet on the Mac version include Content Controls, Building Blocks, UserForms, and ActiveX. It can use, but cannot create, or modify most Content Controls. AutoText is a Building Block that the Mac can and does use. The Mac version lacks the more powerful tools to manage styles available in the Windows version through the Manage Styles Dialog. See How do I manage styles? Mac User. (Look at all of the responses, not just the one marked as an answer.)

 

The browser version of Word – Word Online – has a Transcribe feature that has recently been added to the Windows desktop version of Microsoft 365’s Word. It also has the ability to Export to PowerPoint (although not that usefully). Otherwise, the browser version has far fewer features and editing in it has been reported to mess up automatic numbering. Chromebooks use a version of this or of the Android mobile app. See How to access Microsoft Office on a Chromebook. This can only be used with documents stored on OneDrive or SharePoint. Differences between using a document in the browser and in the Word desktop application. I would use this for note taking and for quick viewing/printing, but not for editing. Especially not for editing long or complex documents. The ability to mess these up is too high.

 

The mobile applications (Android/IOS, etc.) vary somewhat but have far fewer features. I would use them for note taking and for quick viewing/printing, but not for editing. Especially not for editing long or complex documents. Primarily these can only be used with documents on OneDrive or SharePoint. (Usually, you can get at documents on your local device, but it is tricky.) What you can do in the Microsoft 365 apps on mobile devices with a Microsoft 365 subscription See also Word for Android Phones Help, Word for Android Tablets Help,  Word for iPhone Help, Word for iPad Help.

 

When seeking help, it is important to give the program that you are having problems with as a part of your question.

 

Note that the statements about capabilities and usefulness are my opinions, not anything from Microsoft. They are based on my use and on my observations over the years here and in other Word forums. In my opinion, none of the versions is perfect. They can all be useful, recognizing their limitations.

Volunteering to "pay forward" the help I've received in the Microsoft user community.


Charles Kenyon
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
wordfaq[at]addbalance[dot]com

Legal site: https://addbalance.com

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Last updated April 28, 2024 Views 35 Applies to: