The first step to creating a fax in Word is to type your document. Once your document is complete, you can start the fax process. To do this, we can click the File menu and choose Send To.

 

 

As you can see from the sample above, we have two ways to fax. If you choose Recipient using Internet Fax Service, that service will open. We’re not going to talk about that process as there are many, many types of Internet Fax Service providers.

 

If you choose Recipient using a Fax Modem, however, the Fax Wizard will launch to help walk you through the process. Here’s what the first screen will look like:

 

 

Like other document wizards, this launch screen gives you a brief description of what this wizard will help you do. On the left hand side, we have a list of the steps that we’re going to go through; each step will be selected as we walk through the wizard. Then at the bottom of the screen, we have options for Help, Cancel, Back, Next, and Finish.

 

Let’s click Next and take a look at the first step of the Fax Wizard.

 

 

This step lets you choose what you want to fax: a document with or without a cover sheet, or a cover sheet with a note. (In order to choose a document, it must be open in Word.) When you click Next, the Fax Wizard will move to Step 2.

 

 

This step lets you choose what fax program you want to use, or if you want to print your fax out so you can send it from a fax machine.

 

 

The third step lets you enter the names and fax numbers of your recipients. Note that you can also click the Address Book button to choose from your Outlook contacts. As well, if you add more than one recipient, Word will automatically turn your fax into a merge and insert merge fields for the Name and Fax Number.

 

 

Step 4 lets you pick a cover sheet style for your fax. Each option has a preview under the radio button choice.

 

 

The last step allows you to enter information about the sender. This is where you can type your name, company, mailing address, phone number, and fax. Once you click Next to this screen, you will see the finish window of the fax wizard.

 

 

You can still go back and make changes or you can click Finish to edit your document.

 

 

Once you’re done editing your document, click the Send Fax Now button on the Fax toolbar. Remember that you can re-launch the Fax Wizard at any time to make other changes, such as a change to your cover sheet style.