How to do landscape on word 2003: A step-by-step guide to setting landscape orientation in Word 2003

Changing the page orientation to landscape in Microsoft Word 2003 is a straightforward process, but the navigation is different from modern Word versions. To set your document or a specific section to landscape orientation, follow these steps:

1. Open your document in Word 2003.
2. Go to the File menu, and select Page Setup.
3. In the Page Setup dialog box, click on the Margins tab.
4. Under Orientation, select Landscape.
5. If you want only part of your document in landscape, use your cursor to highlight the specific text, then in the Apply to dropdown, choose Selected text or This section. Otherwise, it will apply to the entire document.
6. Click OK to apply your changes.

As a designer, I often recommend considering how your document layout supports readability and visual flow. If you're preparing floor plans, room arrangements, or even inspiration boards in Word, using landscape orientation gives you more horizontal space—perfect for wider graphics, tables, or before exporting to a program like a 2D floor planner where the proportions truly matter.

Tips 1:

Before printing, always check the Print Preview to ensure your content adapts to the new orientation—sometimes graphics or tables may spill across the edges, so minor adjustments might be needed for optimal presentation.

FAQ

Q: Can I have both portrait and landscape pages in the same Word 2003 document?

A: Yes, by inserting section breaks and changing the orientation for specific sections.

Q: Does changing orientation affect headers and footers?

A: The content in headers and footers stays, but their layout may change—double-check alignment after switching orientation.

Q: Will text formatting be lost when changing to landscape?

A: Generally, text formatting is preserved, but large tables or images may need resizing.

Q: How do I switch back to portrait after using landscape?

A: Repeat the Page Setup steps and select Portrait in the orientation options.

Q: Can I set the default for new documents to landscape in Word 2003?

A: Not directly—each new document starts in portrait, and you’ll need to manually set it to landscape if needed.