FS Pro for Word turns the Information Mapping® Methodology into one-click formatting so you can focus on your content instead of structure and format.
- Structure consistently in Blocks and Maps
- Standardize content with Information Types
- Let the ribbon handle layout
To enhance the quality of your documents, we grouped FS Pro rules, tips and tricks, and a feature overview.
The Four Golden Rules
- Cursor first. Place the cursor exactly where the change belongs before you add or delete a Block, type content, or add a table. FS Pro acts at the cursor.
- A new Map = a new topic and starts on a new page. Map title on top, Blocks with Block lines follow. When a Map runs past one page, use the Continued feature to split it and repeat the Map title.
- Avoid formatting issues by always deleting Maps and Blocks with the delete option under Map and Block in the FS Pro ribbon.
- Paste text through FS Pro. Bring text in from other sources with the FS Pro paste feature, not plain Ctrl+V, so FS Pro picks up FS Pro formatting. Or use Ctrl + V and choose "Keep Text Only".
Feature Overview
Basic: Building your document
| Feature | What it does | Tip |
| Standard Templates | Starting a common document type | 20+ ready-made templates (e.g. report, meeting notes); start here instead of a blank page. |
| Insert Block / Map | Adding any new unit | A Map always holds Blocks; write the Map title as the main topic of those Blocks. |
| Delete Block / Map | Removing a unit | Put the cursor inside the unit you want gone first. |
| Oversized Block | Large images, flowcharts, wide tables, or content that won't fit a regular Block | Use it rather than squeezing visuals into the text column. |
| Continue | A Block or Map spills onto the next page | Adds the "continued" notice and repeats the Map title on the new page. |
| Adding Sections, Chapters or Parts | Opening a Section, Chapter or Part | Answers "What is this about?"; holds shared definitions and a Topic/See Page table. |
| Topic/See Page table | Navigating a long document | Lists Chapter, Section or Map titles with page numbers. Update it to refresh titles and pages automatically. |
| Title Numbering | Formal or referenced documents | Number Parts, Chapters, Sections, Maps and/or Block labels with Arabic, Roman (upper/lower) or letters (upper/lower). |
Advanced: Tables, reuse and navigation
| Feature | What it does | Tip |
| Table tools (ribbon) | Insert, edit and delete pre-formatted tables and subheadings | Work from the ribbon. No need to leave it for Word's table menus. |
| Table Manager | Create, save and re-insert your own custom tables | Save tables you build often once. Reuse them with Table Manager. |
| Reusable Units | Save a Part, Chapter, Map or Block and insert it into other documents | The unit adopts the new document's look automatically, and content stays identical everywhere. |
| Custom Fields | Variables that fill in values throughout the document | Ideal for templates and model documents: change a value once, then update fields. |
| Target Manager (Only in FS Pro for Word Business) | Tag Chapters, Sections, Maps or Blocks per audience, topic, etc. | One source or master document produces several Word, PDF and online versions. |
| Outline Pane | Shows the document's structure | Navigate, drag and drop to reorder, spot structure errors, and assign or change Information Types. |
Expert: Look and feel, publishing, settings
| Feature | What it does | Tip |
| Custom Templates | Add or delete your own templates | Keeps documents of the same kind consistent across writers. |
| Style Manager | Define consistent formatting for titles, Block labels and text, tables, lists, Block lines. | Set it once per brand or document family instead of formatting by hand. Share with fellow FS Pro users using "Share Custom Items." |
| Share Custom Items | Packs templates, tables, Reusable Units, Style Sets etc. into a zip you can export and import. | Custom items saved in your ribbon are visible only to you. Export the zip so colleagues can import it. |
| Publish to FS Pro Cloud | Turns the Word document into a responsive online publication | Readers can open it on any device using a link or a QR code. |
| Language settings | Switches the ribbon language | 11 languages available. |
| Update settings | Sets how often FS Pro checks for updates | Daily, weekly, every two weeks, at every start, or never. |
| View Options | Enable/Disable the Outline Pane and switch between the Classic and Simplified ribbon. | Use the Simplified View if you do not need all the bells and whistles. |
Quick Tips and Common Mistakes
- Classify before you write. Ask what question each unit answers; the Information Type then dictates the format.
- One idea per Block. If a label needs "and", it is probably two Blocks.
- Labels do the scanning work. Make each Block label descriptive enough that readers can skip what they don't need and easily pick out what they need.
- Hit 10 Blocks? Split the Map. Nine is the ceiling for easy readability and retrieval.
- Use Bullet Points from the FS Pro ribbon instead of classic MS Word. This will avoid possibly errors.
- Long table? Use he Continue feature to continue your Map, Block and Table on the next page. Your Map title, Block Label AND table headers will be repeated. Put your cursor in your table when you split it.
- Use the Outline Pane to move Blocks and Maps. Click and hold your Block or Map, and drag it to another place within your Outline Pane.
- Refresh before you share. Update the Topic/See Page tables and your Table of Contents so titles and page numbers are current.
- Share your items for speed, consistency, and content integrity. Export Custom Items so the whole team writes with the same templates, styles, and reusable units.
Comments